What do you think of... ???

Question

...The Chase for the Cup? Do you think they did right by making it 12 drivers instead of 10?

(I don't! 10 is an easy round number & I think they only did it for the Jr. fans... but look, he may not make it this year... does that mean they'll extend it to 15 next year? I HOPE NOT!!! Sorry, don't mean to offend any Jr. fans... this is just my opinion!) :o)

Also, what do you think of the idea of having the "go or go home" drivers qualifying in a "pack"?? I think that Mikey Waltrip has a great idea in that! (Did you know Mikey mentioned it on "Inside Nextel Cup"?)

Answer 1

They should have kept the chase to 10 drivers but they were worried that fans would lose interest if drivers like Jr, Smoke and Jeff Gordon weren't in it. The other thing I really don't like this year is that there is no difference between positions and only the 10 bonus points for every win before the chase. This is NOT fair at all to the driver that has run great for the first 2/3 of the season. The first issue that needs to be addressed with qualifying is the number of cars locked into the field, they need to reduce or eliminate the top 35 deal. Another issue is how they inspect the cars for the first practice (they get inspected by where they are in the standings). Finally, they should do ALL the go or go home cars together at the beginning of qualifying in case it rains later on like at Daytona before the Pepsi (Firecracker) 400.

Answer 2

I actually like the change for the top 12 although I would rather see it at 15. I just think the more drivers in it the more interesting it is. So I think 15 woudl be a better number. I do not think they made the change because of Stewart, come on, look how much they pick on him. If they changed it for anyone it would have been Jr, but I think they were just trying to make it a better chase. I am not sure what to think of the go or go home rule. Havent heard enough about it yet.

Answer 3

I don't see how fans can say that NASCAR increased it to twelve drivers so Dale Earnhardt Jr. could make the Chase for the Cup. Earnhardt finished fifth in the driver standings last year. He qualified for it in sixth position. If they did it for any driver, they did it for Tony Stewart, who also has a large fan base. If more drivers have a chance to win the championship, then their fans will tune it to see if they can.

I personally don't like the Chase. I understand why they did it, but I feel that it gives the chance of the rightful driver losing the championship in the Chase. They should have left it at ten drivers. I think that the race around tenth is closer than the race around twelfth.

As far as the Qualifying situation goes, they should group them together. It isn't really fair and equal if some drivers go out early in the sun while others go out late in the shade. They really should have them all qualify together.

Answer 4

I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference. I understood they did it because 11th place last year was only a few points (7, 9 or something) out of the top 10. I really don't think Jr. had anything to do with it because it was already decided when the season began.

I don't know what Mikey said, but that sounds like an interesting idea. They do need to come up with something more fair than what they're doing now.

Go Jr.>>>>

Answer 5

Well the chase is a made for TV event anyway. I don't like it but it is here to stay. If they are going to have it I would like to see it include the top 15.
Regarding Waltrip and his comments I think that is a good idea in one way but it sort of violates the spirit of qualifying. For example the top 35 are getting in as are the guys with past champion provisions. If you let the top 35 qualify first and the weather is hot and then let the go or go home drivers qualify and the sun gets blocked and the track cools down then they have an advantage and could take the pole. I understand his theory of making them equal and having them qualify at the same time and if you are willing to only let them compete for the slots from 35 to 43 - minus past champions then I guess it would be okay.

Answer 6

It wasn't Jr that they changed the Chase, I think it was Tony. The difference is, only the top 10 are going to New York, not the Top 11.

As for the Go or go home group? There is rumor that Nascar will change the qualifying rule. Last rumor was not this year.

Modifications Possible to Top-35 Qualifying Rule: Nextel Cup director John Darby -- saying he was speaking for himself, not NASCAR -- didn't mince words Friday when asked about speculated changes to NASCAR's Top-35 rule. "We ain't changing it," Darby said. That doesn't mean, however, that NASCAR isn't contemplating some alterations to the current rule. One possibility is grouping "go or go home" cars together during the qualifying session, so all are faced with similar track conditions during their laps. Darby likes that idea. "We're talking about that a lot," he said. "It makes it truly a head-to-head competition that way." Where would they be grouped? One possibility, according to Darby: Let the championship driver or crew chief decide where in the session that respective group would qualify.(ESPN.com)(7-14-2007)

Answer 7

I feel that the 12 Chaser's WAS made because of Jr and Gordon. If you remember correctly neither one of them made the Chase in 2005 I think it was and Nascar was worried that since the 2 BIGGEST driver's weren't in contention for the cup that those driver's fan's wouldn't be as likely to come to the final 10 race's. Heaven forbid Na$car loose money and Jr and Gordon not make the Chase.

I just wonder if Jr doesn't make the Chase this year if they will make it 13 Chaser's.

As for what I think of the Chase ,I don't like it period. I would prefer they go back to the old point sysytem come NEXT YEAR .I say next year ,as sadly Gordon has it wrapped up.

Answer 8

The 12 drivers are fine,but make it intresting.
The final 10 races of the chase are elemination races for the chase.after the 10th race the 12 th place chase driver is eleminated,then the 11th ,10th and so on until the last race where there are just 2 drivers to decide from,and winner takes all.

Answer 9

10 was too many, 12 is way too many.. and if the CHASE format doesn't suck than I don't know what does...

God I miss the old points format...

I miss the Winston brand...

I miss Dale Sr. tellin' Bill Elliott he wasn't going to get pushed around...

I miss North Wilksboro, and Rockingham...

I miss the Southern 500 on labor day weekend @ Darlington!

I miss double-header weekend where drivers ran the Indy 500 and Coca~Cola 600 in the same DAY!

I miss Jimmy Spencer giving us something to talk about week in, and week out...

But most I miss the days where NASCAR cared about us DIEHARD, 100% AMERICAN fans!

Answer 10

10 was always the magic number. If NASCAR changes it again, then we'll know they are trying to fix it so Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon will always get in.