After little or no consideration, I have come to the conclusion that expanding the Chase to 20 cars would be ridiculously preposterous. If the Chase didn’t work with then or twelve what in your right mind would make you think that the Chase would work with twenty? Why would NASCAR fans buy into this idea? There are some reasons and after I state them here later, you will not be surprised. The idea is a joke.
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[/media-credit]Lets break this down. Why would NASCAR fans buy into an idea like this? First, do some calculations and see who would actually make the cut for the twenty man Chase. What a shocker! Dale Earnhardt Jr. would actually be in the Chase and would have finished 18th if the system were run.(Sarcastic Applause) Sorry guys, Jimmie Johnson would still be the champion. I have an idea! Lets just get rid of the Chase! We would not have this problem if it weren’t for the Chase itself. Why did NASCAR fans wait until 2003 to complain about the points system? Yes, Matt Kenseth won one race, but consistency wins championships, not ten race lotteries. You also have to ask the question, Where were Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick, or Jeff Gordon when Kenseth started to have some trouble? That’s right. They didn’t capitalize. That is their fault, not the points system. Kenseth did his job and built big enough points lead that he didn’t have to worry about one accident.
NASCAR is NOT the NFL. There is a reason why sports like baseball, hockey, football, and basketball have playoff systems! They work! They do not work in auto racing! A lot of fans have driven away from the sport because the most popular driver is not in it, I understand that, but having him a part of a twenty man Chase would still not bring them back. Do you want to know why? Jr. would have no chance! Harvick outnumbered Jr. in top tens by eighteen. That is incredible. NASCAR fans feel that Brian France has taken a step in the wrong direction and the real champion is being cheated. And I agree. I cannot believe what I’am seeing today is really happening and this new idea that was just brought up is a tale of the times.
Finally, I urge Mr. France to stop with the Chase changes talk. The changes would only further lower the attendance ratings and I know this for a fact. Despite the close Chase this year less fans still came to the races. I will never leave NASCAR, but France is starting to lose me. The way to handle it is to not abide by the Chase. I believe Jimmie Johnson is one of the best drivers in the sport today, but he is not a 5x champion guys! Lets go back to the old system and go back to the way of having drivers earn their championship! And please…no more talk about adding more drivers to the Chase.
