[WVGrandma4Kasey]

/ Associated Press
Posted: 4 hours ago
RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) - NASCAR is giving serious consideration to widening the Chase for the championship field and awarding more points to race winners beginning next season, stock-car officials told The Associated Press on Saturday.
NASCAR chairman Brian France promised slight changes to the Chase in July, and those two options are under the heaviest consideration. Changes to the final 10 races - which won't happen in 2007, anyway - are unlikely.
The sanctioning body is looking at ways to award a "wild card" but hasn't finalized anything.
"We're trying to see if there is a way to earn a spot in the Chase without harming the integrity of it," spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "Everyone made a big deal of Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. not making it last year, but it really only legitimized it.
"It proved you really have to be on to get into the Chase, and we don't want to change it."
The Chase for the championship field currently consists of the top 10 drivers in the standings, plus anyone within 400 points of the leader. In the third year of the Chase, that 400-point mark has yet to come into play, and widening it is under consideration.
But NASCAR does not want to ensure a spot in the Chase field to a driver who wins a single race.
"We don't want to create a situation where ringers are coming in at certain tracks to run for the win and an automatic spot in the Chase," Poston said. NASCAR also is leaning toward awarding more points for victories - something the sanctioning body has been under pressure to do, particularly this season. Kasey Kahne has five wins but entered Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway 11th in the standings.

[Mike24]

I don't care if you have 5 wins, if you aren't consistent, you shouldn't be in the Chase. Kasey Kahne is a perfect example of this. He had 5 wins, but he did not have the consistent finishes. Mark Martin did not have any wins, but he had the consistent finishes. Jeff Gordon had 2 wins and consistent finishes. I think there should be more points awarded for the win so it makes it more rewarding to win, but it dosen't matter if you have 0 or 5 wins, if you don't have the consistent finishes, you don't make the Chase. Kasey Kahne had 5 wins, but he didn't have the consistent finishes, and Kasey Kahne had the finishes at the right time, and he deserved to make the Chase.

[LSC9901]

Mike ... I'm not your drivers biggest fan but I am a fan of consistency. Why is it that no one has decided to change the Busch series if the "CHASE" is such a great idea. Harvick has been very consistent in Busch and his ranking shows it. I do not like the idea of cup drivers competeing in the Busch series and I'm not a Harvick fan but I will give him credit for running the entire series and for his consistency.

[saint]

RePost
I got to say that this new race for the chase format stinks. You mean that if Stewart, Biffle or Edwards WON the next 10 Races they still wouldn't be able to be the Champion????????????????????????

Doesn't Nascar know how many people will be turned off and not turn on the TV because their Driver doesn't have a chance?

What if the 1978 Yankees who were like 14 games behind the Red Socks COULDNT COME BACK? It would have ruined the game. What if Boston Fans who are 10 games out now were told, "ok from this date if your not winning you can't win". THIS IS STUPID.

Please help me understand and tell me what I am missing...I am open to learning, but its going to be a hard sell
Saint

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Mike ... I'm not your drivers biggest fan but I am a fan of consistency. Why is it that no one has decided to change the Busch series if the "CHASE" is such a great idea. Harvick has been very consistent in Busch and his ranking shows it. I do not like the idea of cup drivers competeing in the Busch series and I'm not a Harvick fan but I will give him credit for running the entire series and for his consistency.

I would take consistency over 5 wins and DNF's or 30 place finishes anyday of the week. Wins, DNF's and 30th place finishes dosen't win championships, but finishing in the top 5 top 10 each week and having atleast 1 DNF the whole year is consistency, and that wins championships. Kasey Kahne has 5 wins, but he has DNF's and 20-30th place finishes, and thats why he was back in the points, because he wasn't consistent.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Mike24

I would take consistency over 5 wins and DNF's or 30 place finishes anyday of the week. Wins, DNF's and 30th place finishes dosen't win championships, but finishing in the top 5 top 10 each week and having atleast 1 DNF the whole year is consistency, and that wins championships. Kasey Kahne has 5 wins, but he has DNF's and 20-30th place finishes, and thats why he was back in the points, because he wasn't consistent.

My thoughts exactly .... even though there are many that disagree.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by saint

Please help me understand and tell me what I am missing...I am open to learning, but its going to be a hard sell
Saint

From my perspective you aren't missing anything. 11th place and below are technically blocked from advancing into the top 10 no matter how well they do. PERIOD !!!!!

Totally unfair.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Mike24

I would take consistency over 5 wins and DNF's or 30 place finishes anyday of the week. Wins, DNF's and 30th place finishes dosen't win championships, but finishing in the top 5 top 10 each week and having atleast 1 DNF the whole year is consistency, and that wins championships. Kasey Kahne has 5 wins, but he has DNF's and 20-30th place finishes, and thats why he was back in the points, because he wasn't consistent.

So Mike, what if Martin or Burton should win the Cup with ZERO wins because they hang around the top ten? Don't you think that would be a travesty to the sport? Its possible that Kasey could win a couple more races, then blow an engine or someone, dumps him into the fence. There is something wrong when you can win a title without winning a race, yet another guy with 7 wins does not because of bad luck. Na$car rewards consistency, not winning.........and winning is why people race. 2nd place is nothing more than the first loser.
You will never see a team or individual in any other sport where you can get a title without winning anything.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

So Mike, what if Martin or Burton should win the Cup with ZERO wins because they hang around the top ten? Don't you think that would be a travesty to the sport? Its possible that Kasey could win a couple more races, then blow an engine or someone, dumps him into the fence. There is something wrong when you can win a title without winning a race, yet another guy with 7 wins does not because of bad luck. Na$car rewards consistency, not winning.........and winning is why people race. 2nd place is nothing more than the first loser.
You will never see a team in any other sport where you can get a title with no wins.

Thats how competitive the sport is today. Im assuming you are a old school fan? Most of the old school fans are used to wins winning championships, it isn't that way these days, which is the way it should be because wins dosen't win championships, consistency wins championships. Mark Martin and Jeff Burton were consistent all year, and they got the points to make the Chase. Kasey Kahne had 5 wins, but he wasn't consistent, but he got the finishes at he right time, so he deserved to make the Chase. I agree with you about the wins, I think winning should be something meaningful, and that means more points for winning, but people race for the Nextel Cup Championship, not wins. But winning is another reason why people race, so I agree that yes we should award more points for winning, but people race for the main trophy, the Nextel Cup Championship.

[saint]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

From my perspective you aren't missing anything. 11th place and below are technically blocked from advancing into the top 10 no matter how well they do. PERIOD !!!!!

Totally unfair.

I know and I agree and it sucks....Won't watch as much or with the same excitement....

But hey that's just me.

Saint

[Mike24]

So you would rather have 2 drivers contending for the championship other than 10 drivers? Wow, Kesneth and Johnson leading the field by 300 points with no one else having a chance seems exciting.

[saint]

Originally Posted by Mike24

So you would rather have 2 drivers contending for the championship other than 10 drivers? Wow, Kesneth and Johnson leading the field by 300 points with no one else having a chance seems exciting.

AH no....They could have fixed the point system so that 2 wouldn't run away with it without adding the caviat that only the Top 10 are in the Chase.
Simple.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by saint

AH no....They could have fixed the point system so that 2 wouldn't run away with it without adding the caviat that only the Top 10 are in the Chase.
Simple.

It dosen't matter what NASCAR could have done to fix it. Drivers could have had a good year and run away with it with that points system.

[saint]

Originally Posted by Mike24

It dosen't matter what NASCAR could have done to fix it. Drivers could have had a good year and run away with it with that points system.

Agree'd so the only question is Why limit the Chase to only the top 10.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by Mike24

I don't care if you have 5 wins, if you aren't consistent, you shouldn't be in the Chase. Kasey Kahne is a perfect example of this. He had 5 wins, but he did not have the consistent finishes. Mark Martin did not have any wins, but he had the consistent finishes. Jeff Gordon had 2 wins and consistent finishes. I think there should be more points awarded for the win so it makes it more rewarding to win, but it dosen't matter if you have 0 or 5 wins, if you don't have the consistent finishes, you don't make the Chase. Kasey Kahne had 5 wins, but he didn't have the consistent finishes, and Kasey Kahne had the finishes at the right time, and he deserved to make the Chase.

Mike, LSC can tell you that if there is one word that dosen't mean racing to me it's consistency...Boring...How it was ever allowed to become a part of racing is beyong me. It's crap, I don't know your age, but in my day you raced to win. Everyone raced on or off the tract, I almost hate to admit that, don't do it kid's, we had big,heavy, fast car's and we ran them any chance we got. I just can't call this consistency stuff racing, Lord you got to use them tires sometime. Second place is first loser.