Last Lap: ChasemailBy Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
September 7, 2004
02:35 PM EDT (18:35 GMT)
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The hour between the Nextel Cup driver's meeting and driver introductions is a
sort of calm before the storm. Folks hang out, quite relaxed, though with the
slight twinge of anticipation for the coming event. I often reserve this time
for stuffing my face.

Such was the case last weekend at Bristol. As I stood in line, salivating at the
thought of a grilled chicken wrap, I happened upon NASCAR chairman Brian France
and senior VP George Pyne, both already enjoying dinner. This was the perfect
opportunity to gauge the pulse of the Daytona Beach brass.
Marty Smith
"So, Brian, you have to be happy with the buzz around The Chase, especially
considering how many critics -- including me -- have changed their opinion of
the format."

From the moment it was announced until, oh, late May or early June, I guess, I
was critical of the Chase for the Nextel Cup format. It wasn't fair for this,
that and the other reasons. And while I still think it's flawed in places, I am
undoubtedly a convert to the overall concept.

The drama surrounding the battle for qualification has injected significant
interest into this typically mundane portion of the season. This time last year
Matt Kenseth held a 389-point lead over second place. Three hundred eighty-nine
points. Think about how ridiculous that is.

Fast forward to the present. Eight guys are racing hell-bent for the final three
spots in the Chase. This was France's vision -- one most of us were too
closed-minded to accept.

It's working. He had to want to yell, "I told you so, Marty." But he didn't,
just took a bite of beefaroni, grinned slightly and shrugged as if to say, "I
was confident all along, even when everyone else wasn't."

With that, he strolled away. Pyne looked at me, laughed at me, then followed the
boss man off into oblivion. And there I was, left to a half-eaten chicken wrap
and a suspicion that just when I thought I'd caught up, France was still several
steps ahead of me.
MARTY SMITH
• Email Marty• Opinion Archive• Store: 'I Agree With Marty' tee

One qualification race remains, and many of you still have burning questions
about The Chase. What better time than now to offer up some answers...

Marty, The drivers that make it into the top 10 for the race to the finish -- is
this the worst they can finish? Will the driver in 10th place take 10th place
money at the end of the season at the NASCAR Awards Dinner, no matter how
terrible he finishes the rest of the year? Do these drivers have the top 10
money checks locked up no matter what? -- Gary Beasley

Yep. That's precisely correct, Gary. At the conclusion of Saturday's Rock n'
Roll 400 at Richmond, the 10 drivers in the Nextel Cup point standings can
finish no worse than 10th, regardless their performance in the final 10 events.
They could feasibly blow seven engines and wreck three times and still finish
10th.

Meanwhile, the driver in 11th could win eight of the final 10 races and still
not improve his position. Doesn't seem fair -- not even. But if that were to
happen, that particular team would have no one to blame but themselves for
failing to qualify during first 26 races.

It's not unlike making the playoffs in the NFL. A team might finish the season
10-6, peak at just the right time and be the best team in their respective
conference when the regular season ends, yet fail to make the playoffs because
they opened the season 1-4.

Doesn't seem right. But to quote Mike Helton, "It is what it is."

Marty, I have a question that I cannot seem to get the answer to. Let's say Jeff
Gordon is in first place when the Chase begins. Shortly into the race, he wrecks
and finishes 42nd. Assuming the 33 non-chase qualify, does he finish 42nd in
points or 10th? Huge difference huh? -- John

Gargantuan difference, actually, John. Matter of fact, in the minds of many
folks in the garage, that very scenario is the major flaw in the Chase format. I
agree. Here's why:

Per usual, the 10 qualified Chasers will each race against 42 other cars each
week, under precisely the same points format used in the regular season, rather
than racing alongside 42 other cars under a separate point system that applies
only to those in the top 10.
RACE FOR THE CHASE
• Standings• "Bubble" Standings• "Clinch" Standings• 2004 Results

For example: The highest finisher among those qualified for the Chase receives
10 Chase Points, while the lowest qualified Chaser receives one Chase Point.
That way, a DNF doesn't automatically end your shot at a championship the way
the current format does.

Under the scenario John raised, Gordon would get 37 points for a 42nd place
finish. If one of his Chase competitors won that particular race and led the
most laps, he'd get 156 points. Hence, if that were to happen, Gordon could all
but kiss his fifth championship goodbye.

Marty, I am really getting sick and tired of hearing the drivers complain and
whine about the new points system a.k.a the Chase for the Cup. Do they not
understand that every major sports league in the world has a playoff format? I
can see how drivers were sheepish about the new system (as I was) when the
season started, but how can you ignore all the current excitement in this Chase?
It's great and the teams who are ripping this format should just be grateful
that more people will be watching Nextel Cup racing this fall than ever before.
And BTW, I like the Marty T-shirt... good stuff. -- Phillyduke13

I assume Luke Duke is speaking of Ryan Newman, the only driver verbally blasting
the format at present (a dynamic Newman says is deceiving in and of itself).
Last month Newman called the new format "irrational," and said that "A lot of
people are acting like they like the format now, but a lot of people are
two-faced."

Interesting. Newman currently stands eighth in the standings, with a very real
shot at winning his first championship. Wonder if he'll change his tune if he
does go on to win it all? Currently, he says it'll be nice to win the title, but
it won't carry the same significance that championships did under the old
format.

Mark Martin voiced a similar sentiment to me at Pocono. He doesn't hate the
system, but has trouble truly accepting it because it was developed in the name
of entertainment and thus may in some way compromise its integrity.

Like Luke, I had misgivings about the format initially, but the palpable
intensity surrounding the Race for the Chase has garnered my respect and due
attention. Thanks much for buying a shirt, Luke. Rock it proudly, baby. I bought
one of yours, too. Just got it. Has the General Lee on the front.

Hey Marty I like the change to the final 10-race run for the Nextel
championship, but I am curious about what will come down to the non-contenders.
Will these drivers be expected to move out of the way for the contenders to get
by? Will there be an unwritten "gentlemen's rule" like there has been at the end
of a race when most drivers will let the leaders on by? I can see some possible
angry results if this doesn't happen. What will the non-contenders be expected
to do, race but stay out of the way? -- KWR

I don't anticipate non-qualified drivers will race any differently than ever,
KWR. Might they be slightly more cautious around a guy in the Chase? Sure. As
you said, they'll probably treat racing situations with front-running Chasers
much like they treat the leaders now -- move out of the way and let the fast
cars battle for the victory.

But if Robby Gordon is racing Jimmie Johnson for position on the last lap, I'll
guarantee you he's not going to lift entering Turn 3 strictly on account of
Johnson's Chase status. Heck, if I'm Gordon in that situation I probably race
Johnson even harder. What's Gordon got to lose?

Hey Marty, If you own are a team solidly in the top 10 going into Richmond AND
you cannot mathematically gain or lose a position, do you give your team the
weekend off so they will be fresh for the 10-race shootout? At the very least,
why not pull the driver so he has no chance of getting hurt in a meaningless
race? Actually, even if you fall a position, say from second to third, who
cares? Why not give them the week off under that scenario also. -- Doug Miller

While your rationale seems quite viable, Doug, it would never fly. Could a team
owner give his or her guys the weekend off? Absolutely. Would he? Never. Here's
why: The sponsor paying $17 million so that that team can be out there competing
would never go for it, ESPECIALLY in a race with so many potential television
viewers.

Dear Marty, I certainly do not know who else to direct this letter to, so if you
don't mind I'll say my piece to you for what little it might be worth. My
husband and I were involved in mid west stock car racing for many years. But our
hearts were always with NASCAR racing. When the likes of Rusty Wallace and Mark
Martin went on to run for NASCAR we became huge fans of the sport.

It really does concern both of us the way the points race has been changed this
year. If you aren't in the top 10 at this point, what does it matter to the rest
of the guys? I always heard you came to race and were rewarded as to your
performance. But with the way things are going now, I'm really and truly
surprised that the sponsors aren't really up in arms about this whole mess.

Am I missing something important here? I cannot tell you how many friends and
relatives I have heard express their dislike for this system. We surely cannot
be the only ones upset by it. Thanks so much for listening and keep up the good
work. Yours sincerely, Melva Dite Mountain Home, Ark.

By no means are you the only person voicing displeasure for the system, Melva.
Thousands, if not millions, of fans are just as frustrated as you are. The
commercialization of NASCAR -- which is the core reason for the point system
change in the first place -- has so jaded longtime fans that they've begun
turning away from the sport all together. That's discouraging, but NASCAR is
willing to forge ahead in the name of expansion.

Next thing you know we'll be racing in New York.



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