[Bob Tanner]

NASCAR’s leaders wanted to create excitement during the time of the season when the sport needed a boost. They wanted a competitive jump start to match up against baseball’s World Series and the week-to-week progression of the college and pro football seasons.
In the team sports — team being defined as matchups between two of them every week — championships aren’t determined by year-long excellence. It isn’t about being the best; it’s about being the best at the end. Until 2004, NASCAR was about overall excellence.

the complete article>>>Sports: Column: One race does not a champion make | week, bowyer, race

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

NASCAR’s leaders wanted to create excitement during the time of the season when the sport needed a boost. They wanted a competitive jump start to match up against baseball’s World Series and the week-to-week progression of the college and pro football seasons.
In the team sports — team being defined as matchups between two of them every week — championships aren’t determined by year-long excellence. It isn’t about being the best; it’s about being the best at the end. Until 2004, NASCAR was about overall excellence.

the complete article>>>Sports: Column: One race does not a champion make | week, bowyer, race

ARRGGgghhhh!! (Expressed with clenched and grinding teeth).

"it’s about being the best at the end" - oh were this at least accurate/true. In actuality there is no need to be "the best" in ANY of the last 10 events of the season. All any one "Chaser" need do is be better than the other 11. Winning the race is not an absolute essential. Were a "Chaser" to find him/her self cruisin' along in 20th, but clearly and comfortably ahead, and going to finish ahead of the other "Chasers", why, even though sitting in a machine clearly better than the 19 in front, always take all of the risks associated with going for the win? The win ain't essential in the Chase.

Many see Stewarts Chase period performance last year from one perspective only - making a shambles of the Chase. There's another perspective - why fight him if your a Chaser, he wasn't really going anywhere anyway. He climbed a couple more fences whie another took home all the marbles. The win ain't an absolute essential in the Chase.


Now, having said all that, the same scenario can be demonstrated for every single "who's the champion" measurement approach ever applied or dreamed about. Suppose in the end the least liked thing about the Chase here is the "points reset". To us, under the present travesty, Gordon has won the 2007 Championship. We're just now doing a brief "entertain the idiots" segment.