[Bob Tanner]

Every time I think I have this "New NASCAR" completely figured out I get thrown a curve. I really hate to sound like a rookie but I must ask:

Question #1
Will Mark Martin qualify for the Playoffs?
He was interviewed during qualifying yesterday and the subject came up. Maybe I misunderstood him but he seemed to say that no, he wouldn't qualify on driver points and that didn't bother him because he had made the decision long ago to drive only part time, but he followed that with "But we're 10th in owner's points and that will count for the Chase."

Will the Playoffs be the top twelve drivers only or the top twelve plus anyone in the top ten in owner points or the top twelve owners?

Question #2
I know that every driver gets ten bonus points for a win. After Richmond #2 the Points fairy will fly out of the NASCAR hauler, plunk her magic wand on each winner and <poof!> he's ten points for each win richer. Will winners who finish out of the top twelve get these ten points too? (Montoya and Mears as possible examples)
What would happen in this possible scenario: Driver X finishes after Richmond in 13th place in points, eight points out of twelfth but he has one more win than the twelfth place finisher. If he gets the magic bonus that would propel him ahead of the original twelfth place finisher.
If the drivers out of the playoffs don't get the bonus credit for a win, isn't that kind of... inequitable?

A pox on this new NASCAR! They took something which wasn't broke and tried to fix it; they took something very simple and easy to understand and made it maddeningly complicated.

Or, maybe I'm just too "Old school," and not intelligent enough to grasp the nuances of this New NASCAR?

[LSC9901]

Bob asking questions ???? What is going on .....

My understanding for question #2 is that when the 12 are decided upon they will all be awarded 5000 points and 10 extra points for wins which will then determine the seeding.

Of course that is what I thought but now that you are questioning something I'm not so sure my answer is anywhere near close.

[PettyBlue]

Bob,as I am an old guy also let me say this.I agree with your post and the answer to your question #1 at this time in the season is Mark is out but the team or car is in the chase.Read this link and let me know what you make of it. Jayski's® Silly Season Site - The Chase for the Nextel Cup News

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Bob,as I am an old guy also let me say this.I agree with your post and the answer to your question #1 at this time in the season is Mark is out but the team or car is in the chase.Read this link and let me know what you make of it. Jayski's® Silly Season Site - The Chase for the Nextel Cup News

Thanks Petty. I gave up on jayski, as a regular source of NASCAR news when he "merged," (partnered with, was purchased by, became a team mate of, etc., etc) ESPN. I have almost zero interest in special paint schemes, press releases and who did what to whom off the track. Ergo, I missed the info in the link you gave me.
Here is a quote from jayski IRT Q1:
OWNERS: The Owners championship takes the same format as the drivers championship. Owners have their own Chase, so if a team uses more then one driver and is in the Top 12 after 26 races, that TEAM [not driver] would run for the Chase for the owners championship. The drivers would NOT. This means a driver in the Chase would have a team that is NOT in the chase.

A Playoff for the owners? That was news. Gee. The idea of that is so thrilling and exciting I can't imagine why it isn't reported on regularly in the media? Why I believe that I almost wet myself, just thinking about a Owner's Playoff!

IRT Q2, I read it, re read it and then read it again. I didn't see anything stating what happened to the Magic Points IAW drivers (dare I say owners too?) out of The Chosen.

Basically this entire Playoff thing is just another example of how the muckity-mucks in Daytona have bastardized a really good sport, just for the sake of media hype and TV ratings.

Soapbox mode <OFF>

[clutch]

Bob, thats a very interesting scenario in Q 2. Where 13th place driver X has a win and possible bonus points over the 12th place finisher.....

....however are not the bonuses added AFTER the 26th race?

Its confusing for me too

[jks812]

From what I understood, after the 26th race, the top 12 go to 5000 points and then get the 10 bonus points for each race won. I believe only the top 12 get the bonus points.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

From what I understood, after the 26th race, the top 12 go to 5000 points and then get the 10 bonus points for each race won. I believe only the top 12 get the bonus points.

You are probably right; I can see NASCAR doing this.

Now, let's try scenario #3 and base it on your last sentence:

I might be wrong, but it is my understanding that NASCAR doesn't pay end-of-season prize money to every team who runs in a race during the season. I have heard the cut off is either 20th or 25th place.

Now, what happens if the above is correct and a team has a win during the season but isn't in The Chosen. Let's say that this team/driver finishes in 21st place five points behind 20th. The extra ten would get him prize money but if NASCAR's Points Fairy doesn't smite him with her magic wand and get him the ten bonus points, he gets butkus.

Does this possibility seem wrong to anyone but me?

[Mike24]

After the 26th race, the top 12 in the points standings qualify for the chase, no matter how many wins the drivers 13th on back have.

They took something which wasn't broke and tried to fix it; they took something very simple and easy to understand and made it maddeningly complicated.

I don't see how this new system is complicated. You make the playoffs and you are eligible for the championship. It's just like baseball, football, basketball, hockey, etc.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Mike24

After the 26th race, the top 12 in the points standings qualify for the chase, no matter how many wins the drivers 13th on back have.

I don't see how this new system is complicated. You make the playoffs and you are eligible for the championship. It's just like baseball, football, basketball, hockey, etc.

Playoff's are OK in stick&ball. However, I have never agreed with them in stock car racing and, unless the earth has a change of orbit, I probably never will.

That being said, I will respect your apparent affection for the system. Intelligent people can always agree to disagree.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Playoff's are OK in stick&ball. However, I have never agreed with them in stock car racing and, unless the earth has a change of orbit, I probably never will.

That being said, I will respect your apparent affection for the system. Intelligent people can always agree to disagree.

I perfer the Winston Cup system as much as you do. But I look at the playoff system in stock car racing like any other sport, and I have come to like it because of that. I guess some of us look at things differently.