Jeff Gordon would have won going away under the old format...is a playoff in racing really necessary when for years the person who was most consistant throughout the schedule was rewarded with the championship?
2007-11-16 00:02:39 · 15 answers · asked by Al T 2 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
The whole sport has changed in the last 15 years. Places like Rockingham and North Wilkesboro that had a strong fan base, have no race at all. In pursuit of more money they are losing loyal fans. They are also losing the close "door handle to door handle" racing that created the sport and made it interesting.
The cost of having a competitive team is so high that there are only a handful of drivers that realistically have an opportunity to win a race or championship. The sport has become too much equipment and too little driving ability.
I think the Chase came about as a result of Dale Earnhart dying. NASCAR had bankrolled its success, or failure, on one driver, and he wasn't there any longer. I think the Chase was out of fear of losing fans because the most popular driver was gone and because someone who was not one of the most popular drivers won it.
I think the championship should be for the most consistent driver for the entire year. Why should some races be more important than another? I don't think the Chase is helping as much as they hoped, but I really don't care. I quit watching when it became the Dale Earnhart Show. NASCAR has gone Hollywood.
2007-11-16 01:05:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As a relatively new fan, I have mixed feelings. I know the long-time purists of the sport are not really thrilled with the Chase. The newer fans also aren't really thrilled this year either. I do think this has a LOT more to do with who's still competing for the Cup & who's not than the format not working. Everyone was complaining a few years ago that nobody was racing for the win anymore. "Points racing" had become the in thing--don't go for the win if it put you in danger of getting loose & going from 2nd to 16th. NASCAR listened to that. And going into this year, EVERYBODY knew the importance of winning. Well, guess what, the 2 teams that have the most wins are the 2 teams that have any shot at the Cup (not to mention the most consistent (ALL SEASON). Isn't this the way it's supposed to be? I know, I know..JG & JJ are cheaters...whatever. The fact is they have 16 wins between them this year. That's NEARLY 50%!!! That's crazy good!!! I don't think we're going to see another year like this anytime soon. Don't get me wrong, I think the Chase is faaaar from perfect. But, at the very least, it is coming down to the last race to crown the champ.
2007-11-16 02:12:01 · answer #2 · answered by Matt F 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'll go along with Steve T on this one part way! Do away with the chase and the points system altogether! Winner of the Most Races is the champion cut and dry!!! Second place is the first loser not the second winner!
I think we would see the best racing possible because it would be for the top spot only!
No top 35, no nothing for anything but a win. As someone mentioned above everyone out there on the track is on a different agenda. That makes for bad racing!!!
The H*** with consistency, you either win or you lose!
Just my thoughts!!
2007-11-16 04:08:42 · answer #3 · answered by Working Man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, there sure are a lot of people who don't like the chase.
You know what I think? I think they should just do away with the championship altogether. Yeh, that's what they should do. No one liked the fact that the championship could be a runaway before the chase, and now that they have the chase, no one likes it when their driver gets "screwed".
The winning driver gets a trophy when he wins a race. This happens EVERY RACE. I think that should be sufficient. No championship trophy at the end of the year. They don't have a championship in golf, and that seems to be doing fine.
You're right. There shouldn't be any playoff. No trophy at the end of the year for the drivers. That should end all the bickering.
2007-11-16 02:21:08 · answer #4 · answered by Steve T 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is hurting it. France thought it would get more of an audience and instead it is pushing away the old fans. The newbies are only watching for the last 10 races and won't be around the rest of the season. The tracks have open seats even on race day. Consistency throughout the entire season! That is what should determine the champion.
2007-11-16 00:15:16 · answer #5 · answered by Jayme M 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Jayme is exactly right. The chase may attract some new viewers but it is "chasing" away alot of old ones. And I think a lot of these new fans will be more fly by night. Most wont go to a race, most wont buy the products and souvenirs and most wont plan thier Sundays around the race (and Sat nights sometimes)
We need to quit killing tradition to make money. Not all change is good change.
2007-11-16 00:22:49 · answer #6 · answered by MD 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think its definitely hurting it. The "Chase" is so fake and contrived that it takes away from the championship in my opinion. Especially when they don't even have the top guy all year enter the playoffs in the top spot, that is just wrong.
The entire Chase format is just about putting money in baby France's deep packets. Never been about anything other than that...
2007-11-16 02:40:58 · answer #7 · answered by jefflawdog 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think that they only reason that the chase was started in the first place was to give Dale Jr a second chance. He was usually out of contention so they figured if he'd be in the top 10, that would bring him closer and he'd win. He only finished in the top 10 of the chase once so they expanded it to 12. Whoops, he's still not in there.
2007-11-16 06:03:01 · answer #8 · answered by Andy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jayme, pretty much summed it all up, Nascar needs to get back to tradition in the sport.. All this chase is for is the sponsors, and media hype..Its gotten to Hollywood..Brian France..take a hike..
Go Dale Jr & Hms in 2008
2007-11-16 01:24:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't really think it's the chase...Brian France and Mike Hylton have made some bad choices
2007-11-16 03:30:44 · answer #10 · answered by TJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋