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As the final week of racing looms upon us before the inaugural "Chase for the Championship" begins, there are a lot of reflections to observe. A lot of fans have mixed feelings about the new system. They've had them since its inception in January, and they've gotten more acute as the season has wafted its way to the final race before the driver's cut with ten events remaining.
The main conception among the majority of race fans at this juncture, is to "Chase the Chase." A poll at NASCAR.com this past weekend laid the evidence bare for everyone to see, the majority of us think the chase is a scam, and a huge mistake. The majority of fans who voted stated unequivocally that they liked the old system better, with even less voting for it than those who professed that they hadn't entirely made up their minds about it yet. When it comes down to NASCAR making their billions, tradition be damned. That's what happened to the infamous Southern 500 that didn't take place on Labor Day weekend as it had the previous 52 years in NASCAR's history. The same thing can be said for the driver's championship, it has been changed, sold out for the almighty dollar. Those driver's who have won the championship over the years are now in a category of their own. Winning the Winston Cup Championship was one thing, but winning the Nextel Cup Championship will be an entirely different cup of tea. The driver's championship has been changed. Consistency and skill while maintaining a strong presence in the driver's standings during the season, is no longer rewarded. The winner of the Nextel Cup will only have had to actually vie for the Cup in the last ten events, and depending on how any particular race can turn out, anyone of the ten contenders can walk away with it, whether they actually earn it or not. Luck will play as big, or bigger, a factor in this season's championship as skill and consistency. This point, in the minds of the majority of NASCAR race fans, is what makes the Nextel Championship nothing but a big sham. For those of you who may not be regular NASCAR fans and who may not know how this new system is supposed to work, I'll briefly explain it. After next weekend's Chevy Rock and Roll 400 night event at the Richmond International Raceway, those drivers who find themselves in the top ten in the driver's championship point's standings will be the only ones who will have the opportunity to vie for the 2004 Nextel Cup Championship. At that time, the points that the drivers had accumulated during the season will be taken away and a new point's structure will be adhered to for the remaining ten events that will decide the championship. The point's leader will be awarded 5050 points with the rest of the top ten being awarded points in the descending order of five points less per position. As a result, the second place driver will have 5045 points while the tenth place driver will have 5005 points to start the competition in the Chase for the Championship. Go To Page: 1 2
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