[vincesanity82]

I was never a proponent of the 10-driver field. Five racing for the title would be plenty. But instead Clint Bowyer, the same Clint Bowyer with two, count ‘em two, top-5 finishes this season, will start on a nearly equal plane with Jeff Gordon when the Chase begins next Sunday. Gordon had 15 top-5 finishes in the first 26 races. Bowyer had two. Two! In 26 events Bowyer was never competitive enough to win and was only competitive enough to crack the top-5 two times. This is your championship field. -- Hartford Courant

Shawn Courchesne | Auto Racing: Get Ready For NASCAR's Chase For Mediocrity

[Quality88]

I don't see anythin wrong with it. It just goes to show you that you don't have to dominate to make the prescious chase.

[wingkey1]

Putting a name to inclusion for the Chase is the peak of stupid. It does not deserve acknowledgment. Question the structure and reason (?) behind the "Chase" all ya want. Assign a name - you're an idiot.

Please tell the article responsible person so on my behalf. I ain't got the time for him/her.

On to better opinions one can only hope.

[Nevadastars]

Jeff Burton could have possibly won the Cup last year.........without a single win. Its the most ridiculous format ever concieved in professional sports.

[nascarfan24]

Bowyer was consistant enough to make the playoffs that punish consistantcy. Yeah, you heard me right.

[SteelPhoenyx]

If I read the stats correctly...

2 top 5s
11 top 10s
21 top 20s...

Consistently finishing in the top half of the pack. Courchesne: Don't abuse Bowyer because he is consistent to a way that benefits him for the chase. Mediocre my A$$.

[LSC9901]

Lets just face it ... Bowyer followed the rules and ended up in the chase. Many do not care for consistency but a mediocre finish score far more points than a DNF or DNQ

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Lets just face it ... Bowyer followed the rules and ended up in the chase. Many do not care for consistency but a mediocre finish score far more points than a DNF or DNQ

Yep.

Hey, he did what he had too. Name someone that deserves it other than him. And no, don't give me Jr. His team couldn't keep a motor under him. The blew up 20%+ of the motors they brought to race day..

Then next is Newman. If there was a different format, that 07 team may have chosen to take more chances, but they played the system.

Congrats to Clint Boyer.

I don't think he has any shot at the title, but he made it to the top 12. And that is the goal in the first 26.

Maybe that person should write about chess instead, or volleyball. Something besides racing!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Lets just face it ... Bowyer followed the rules and ended up in the chase. Many do not care for consistency but a mediocre finish score far more points than a DNF or DNQ

That's it! That's the missing ingredient: "style points" for crashes!!!

Right now Keselowski leads all comers this year with crash style points for a single crash. But Mikey and JPM should have some pretty good points too, for all the flames. And for total numbers, McMurray and Gilliland will probably be leading the pack... Jamie might even be in the Chase if crash style points were added in.

In past years Sadler would have probably gotten the big points for his top down slides. And Gordo would have gotten a bunch when he went straight into the wall without brakes.

Don't know why I didn't think of this before. It's a way for those who "crash out" to get a few extra points.

[oncea3fan]

boyer still wins the style for upside down on fire across the flag!

what about ruitamens cash at vegas (I think) ?

[Ellison]

that's funny, he didn't even finish 12th entering the Chase, he finished 9th. ahead of fellow "Chasers" Truex, Ku. Busch, and Harvick, yet they pick on Clint.

the Jack Daniels Racing strategy was definitely to get into the Chase, nothing wrong with that. The system was in front of them and they played into it. No question in my mind they would have pushed it harder for wins if their was no Chase. Not to mention, if the Chase field remained at 10 he still would have made it.

As far as the Chase itself, sure it may be flawed and "traditionalists" don't care for it, but it does keep the last handful of races worth watching when it comes to the title. Not only that, but it's more exciting with 10 or so drivers than it would be with say the top 4 or 5. If those drivers that are arguably more deserving than the others in the Chase are that much better, they will rise back to the top anyway.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Well, now that he is in the Chase, he can start making some wins!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by nascarfan24

Bowyer was consistant enough to make the playoffs that punish consistantcy.

That's what I was drivin at. Take that France you A$$HOLE!

[wingkey1]

Shawn Courchesne- A name to be remembered when discussions move to "media experts"

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Shawn Courchesne- A name to be remembered when discussions move to "media experts"

Is that jibberish for JACKA$$