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Wherever NASCAR is discussed, or opinions are solicited, there is a strong likelihood that the topic of the Chase for the Sprint Cup will be debated, denounced or roundly criticized. It is very easy to see that there is very little middle ground on this topic. Fans either love the Chase, or they hate it. And for the past five years, at this point in the season, the media tends to try to stir the pot with the questions they pose to drivers both in and out of contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Most recently, Tony Stewart was asked about his feelings around going from first in the standings to third at the start of the Chase.
To Stewart’s credit, he refused to take the bait, and gave, in my opinion, the perfect response: ” We are all going to have the same amount of points, plus whatever race wins we have. We are going to get 10 extra bonus points for those. It’s easy to understand,” Stewart said. “Everybody knows it going in to it. There is no frustration because you know that going in to it.” He also stated his preference for keeping the points system simple, as it currently is, rather than jazzing it up any kind of complicating formula for wins, poles, or anything else.
Some fans have claimed that the current Chase format and points system is killing the sport. These tend to be people who define themselves as purists, or “real NASCAR fans,” which seems to be an attempt to identify themselves as the ultimate voice on the subject. Frankly, I wonder just how committed they really are to the sport. Because the current system is creating one of the best title battles I’ve witnessed in a long time.
Think about this: If the Sprint Cup was awarded under the old system, Tony Stewart would be cruising to a championship at this point. In all likelihood, the other drivers would be eliminated from contention with three or four races left. As it stands now, after the Kansas race, there are five drivers less than 100 points out of first place. Mark Martin is feeling Jimmy Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin breathing down his neck. He is anything but comfortable. And it is not too much of a stretch to consider that any of the drivers in the top ten have a real shot at capturing the Cup championship.
Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards probably have the lowest probability of mounting a real challenge for first place. But if you take into account the tracks that remain in the schedule, it is not outside the realm of possibility that they have a real shot to move up in the standings. Talladega and Martinsville, especially, have the potential to really juggle the standings. And Charlotte has its own reputation for ruining dreams and breaking hearts.
From this fan’s perspective, the current format for deciding who takes home the Sprint Cup is working just fine. At this point it is almost impossible to say with any certainty who is the best bet to finish the season with the most points. I don’t have too much difficulty making the choice between the action on the track and the action on the football gridiron when I’m deciding my viewing choices on a Sunday afternoon. I guess that could qualify me to call myself a NASCAR fan.
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