NASCAR announces major changes to 2014 Chase format. Your thoughts?

[NickHolt]

NASCAR ANNOUNCES SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE 2014 CHASE

• 16-Driver Chase Grid Introduced; First-To-The-Finish Finale Unveiled
  
• Gossage Reaction Available In Print, Video, Audio Formats
  

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 30, 2014) - NASCAR announced a new championship format today that will put greater emphasis on winning races all season long, expands the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field to 16 drivers, and implements a new round-by-round advancement format that ultimately will reward a battle-tested, worthy champion.

Texas Motor Speedway annually plays host to the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AAA Texas 500 that is scheduled this season for Sunday, Nov. 2. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage reacts to the changes below in a "Five Questions With ..." format as well as video and audio clips.

Changes announced by NASCAR Chairman Brian France to the championship format include:

• A victory in the first 26 races - including the Texas 500 on April 6 at Texas Motor Speedway - all but guarantees a berth in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It is a change that will put an unprecedented importance on winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race all season long.
  
• Expanding the Chase field from 12 to 16 drivers, with those drivers advancing to what now will be known as the NASCAR Chase Grid.
  
• The number of championship drivers in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship will decrease after every three Chase races, from 16 to start in the Chase Grid; 12 after Chase race No. 3; eight after Chase race No. 6; and four after Chase race No. 9.
  
• The first three races of the Chase (27-29) will be known as the Challenger Round; races 30-32 will be known as the Contender Round; races 33-35 will be the Eliminator Round and race No. 36 will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
  
• A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next Chase round.
  
• Four drivers will enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with a chance at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the prestigious NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
  

Eligibility for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup

The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the NASCAR Chase Grid - provided they have finished in the top 30 in points and attempted to qualify for every race (except in rare instances). The 16th Chase position will go to the points leader after race No. 26, if he/she does not have a victory. In the event that there are 16 or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who can earn a Chase Grid spot would be the points leader after 26 races.

If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races, the remaining Chase Grid positions will go to those winless drivers highest in points. If there are 16 or more winners in the first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins, followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points.

As was implemented in 2011, prior to the start of the Chase, all Chase Grid drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races.

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Structure

After the third Chase race, the Chase Grid will be left with 12 drivers. After the sixth Chase race, the field will drop to eight drivers, and following the ninth Chase race, only four drivers will remain in championship contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

The first round (races 27-29) will be called the Challenger Round. If a driver in the Chase Grid wins a Challenger Round race, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-12 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 3,000.

The second round (races 30-32) will be called the Contender Round. Likewise, if a driver in the top 12 in points wins a race in the Contender Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-8 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 4,000.

The third round (races 33-35) will be called the Eliminator Round. If a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in the Eliminator Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-4 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 5,000.

Additionally, drivers who are eliminated in the Contender and Eliminator Rounds will have their points readjusted. Each eliminated driver will return to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (plus any regular season wins bonus points), with their accumulated points starting with race No. 27 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-16th still up for grabs.

Four Drivers, First-to-the-Finish Championship Finale

The 36th and final race of the season will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Simply stated, the highest finisher in that race among the remaining four eligible drivers will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. Bonus points for laps led will not apply in the season finale, so the official finishing position alone will decide the champion.

[NickHolt]

Here's what TMS's Eddie Gossage had to say about it:

 

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY PRESIDENT EDDIE GOSSAGE ON THE CHANGES TO THE CHASE FORMAT

Q: From a promoter perspective, will the changes enhance and amplify the Chase drama and how will it affect the AAA Texas 500 - the eighth race in the 10-event Chase format - set for Nov. 2 at Texas Motor Speedway?

Gossage: "I think this ratchets up the drama because you have got to perform. It's almost now win or go home and if you don't put some points up on the board during the Chase you are probably going to be out of it because every third race they are going to be kicking four guys out and they are out of the championship run. I think it puts a sudden death kind of spin on things where you are going to have to perform or else you are not going to win the championship and you are looking at next year.

"I think it will help the AAA Texas 500 in that by then you are getting down to it. There are eight drivers at that point that will have a shot at winning the championship. The next race - when you go down to Phoenix - it's going to be a cutoff race so if you bobble here or if you have an off race - a cut tire, blown engine, some pit miscue - you may have well blown your 2014 season chances. This (AAA Texas 500) has been a critical race, the race that really determined the championship a few years ago. I think with this, the pressure is going to be even greater. We are going to see the champions rise to the top and the pretenders fall by the wayside.

Q: What change did NASCAR make that you thought was most needed?

Gossage: "The thing that NASCAR did with this is they made sure every single race counts. You are no longer racing for a big, long-term picture; you are racing for today and that is what fans want to see. They want to come to a race and know that they are seeing the drivers and their teams doing the very best, lap after lap, race after race and that this race today matters more than anything else going on. They are not worried about next week. They aren't looking toward the end of the season. They are worried about today because if you win today you are in the Chase. You've got a shot at winning the championship for the season. Everybody is going to try and be winning this race and the next week they are going to try and win that race. There is no pacing yourself. There are no testing things out and trying things out. You want to win today. So when you come to Texas for the April race, that race is huge. You've got to win. And if you can win there your season is made, you are in the Chase. To me, that means so much to the fans. They want to see that race that they bought a ticket to matter. Nobody buys a ticket to see a point championship. People are buying a ticket to see a race.

Q: Do you think that NASCAR is trying to manufacture playoff drama with the changes or ultimately looking to improve the overall product?

Gossage: "It's often a criticism of NASCAR that they are somehow trying to manufacture things and I don't understand that because I didn't see that same charge levied against the NFL when they talked about eliminating the point after touchdown kick. Is the NFL trying to manufacture excitement? Yes! Absolutely they are and that is exciting. Is NASCAR trying to manufacture some excitement here? Absolutely! What is wrong with that? Through the years we have seen the playoff for various sports expanded. The NFL use to have a couple of teams - or three teams and a conference - that would have a playoff and go to the Super Bowl. Now it is up to six teams. In some leagues, they take 50 percent of the teams and put them in championship rounds for the playoffs. Everybody tries to do that in some fashion or another. I don't know why it's different when people talk about NASACAR that way. Every sport is trying to create excitement and this is no different."

Q: Do you like the elimination style where you need to produce throughout the Chase or you could have an early playoff exit just like some "stick-and-ball" sports?

Gossage: "I like the eliminations. I really do. You are going to have to produce early on or else you are going to get kicked out after that third race. Then more are going to get kicked out after that sixth race. Then after the ninth race, it's down to four drivers. I think that is a good thing. That focuses the spotlight nice and hot on these drivers that are in the Chase. The eliminations to me make a lot of sense. It happens in every other sport. People can say what they want to but every other sport - you can have a great season but when you get to the playoffs you lose, you go home. Same thing here. You are going to have to win and do well in the Chase if you want to win the championship.

Q: With all four drivers heading into the Chase finale at Homestead even, do you believe it will help attract the casual fan even more without all the various clinch scenarios?

Gossage: "I think it is going to bring everyone to pay more attention to NASCAR. The casual fan, the more hardcore fan because this is it. This is the championship race. Four drivers going at it. Whoever finishes ahead of the other three is going to win the title. I can't imagine not selling that race out. I can't not imagine adding seats to Homestead for this thing. If that promoter can't sell that race out and add seats to the place and still sellout 100,000, 150,000 seats something is wrong down there because that race is going to be breathtaking. It's going to be exciting. You are going to see guys doing things that you wouldn't typically see done. I know there are some complaints that some guy could have a great race at the end of the season and win the championship. Well a few years ago (2007), the New England Patriots went to the Super Bowl completely undefeated throughout the regular season and playoffs and they got to the Super Bowl and the New York Giants beat them. Nobody says the New York Giants didn't win the championship because the Patriots had this great season. Well the same thing in NASCAR. You can have a great season, but you are going to have to come down to Homestead and you are going to have to perform better than those other three guys that are in the position to win the championship. You are going to have to do that to win. I think that is breathtakingly exciting. If they can't sell it out and they don't want it down there with that kind of excitement give it to us down here in Texas because we will sure do something with it."

[HiTech]

i think it could work the way they hope it will .me i still like the old way and always will .

[PAPosse]

 

Q: Do you think that NASCAR is trying to manufacture playoff drama with the changes or ultimately looking to improve the overall product?

Gossage: "It's often a criticism of NASCAR that they are somehow trying to manufacture things and I don't understand that because I didn't see that same charge levied against the NFL when they talked about eliminating the point after touchdown kick. Is the NFL trying to manufacture excitement? Yes! Absolutely they are and that is exciting. Is NASCAR trying to manufacture some excitement here? Absolutely! What is wrong with that? Through the years we have seen the playoff for various sports expanded. The NFL use to have a couple of teams - or three teams and a conference - that would have a playoff and go to the Super Bowl. Now it is up to six teams. In some leagues, they take 50 percent of the teams and put them in championship rounds for the playoffs. Everybody tries to do that in some fashion or another. I don't know why it's different when people talk about NASACAR that way. Every sport is trying to create excitement and this is no different."

 

 

Eddie, the difference is that you don't have 42 other teams out there competing at the same time, on the same field, every week. In my humble opinion, the champion should be based on ALL 36 races and everybody in NASCAR (mis)management needs to get out of the mindset that NASCAR needs to be like the stick and ball sports..

 

After 28 years with a single system, they've changed it 4 times in the past 11. They don't see anything wrong with that? They have not only destroyed any champion's link to the previous system used from '72-05, but there's no continuity even within the chase era itself.

 

I will still watch some individual races, but the championship has become a joke....and this just makes it worse. In one paragraph, he says nobody buys tickets for a points championship, then goes on to say he expects 100 -150,000 people in the stands to see the last race. What sense does that make?

[NickHolt]

It's an improvement over the last fiasco, but since I haven't watched a complete Cup event in several years (although I did watch a few Truck races - good stuff) I really don't think this will get my attention any more than usual. But I must confess that quite often I do turn on the TV after church and announce that I will be watching the races. A bit hard to see with my eyes closed and rather hard to hear through all that snoring noise.

 

I do like that they are actually putting more emphasis on winning, but to me the business of dreaming up provisional starting spots to benefit sponsors is just plain wrong. The 43 fastest cars need to start the race. Period.

 

And I like that they did away with individual qualifying because many teams spent lots of money working on "clean air" setups that had little to do with actual race setups. The new qualifying procedure means that the lower-buck teams can pick up time on the high-but teams during qualifying if they play the "air game" right. This could save the low-buck teams shop time and money - I hope so anyway.

 

Nick

[PAPosse]

I'm ok with the qualifying - I don't think it will be as "exciting" as they drum it up to be, but I am ok with it. I think it will work on the track, from the stands and at home watching on TV.

 

I think they could emphasize winning buy just giving more points toward it. I get that maybe the last system could have used some tweaking - but the entire chase concept is a fiasco.

[arob]

My first knee jerk reaction is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGLjcLRE9H8........But lets see how it plays out.

[racer61]

The chase is a farce. Last year proved that. If you can work the politics then you can be in the chase. The chase ends up being about 10 races, not the 26 before. Thats crap. It needs to be about all points paying races and whoever has the most points at the end of the season is the champ. Why does it have to be so jacked up. They must of hired the same jackazz that came up with the BCS layout.

 

On a side not. If the chase would of never came along, JJ would be without a few big trophies.

[racer61]

 

 

I do like that they are actually putting more emphasis on winning, but to me the business of dreaming up provisional starting spots to benefit sponsors is just plain wrong. The 43 fastest cars need to start the race. Period.

 

 

 

Nick

Abso-frigen-lutely!!!

[HiTech]

nick you hit one on the nail .something we need to figure out how to bottle it .........market it ....nascar snoozing pill ..hell one thing nascar tapped into without knowing ..make millions and you could give one free air chassis to go with it just pay extra shipping and handling

[rebelracewriter]

Brian France/NA$CAR couldn't pour piss out of a boot if it said "turn over" at the top.....

[NickHolt]

Why hold back, Jay. Tell us how you really feel about Mr. France.

[TBone]

I like the emphasis on winning. But it does nothing to change the snooze-fests that are the 1.5 mile tracks. They are focusing on the wrong thing. With exciting races, it doesn't matter if the points championship is decided with 6 races left.

 

If I were NASCAR king for a day:

 

1. Quit increasing downforce. Take away the splitter, open up the radiator opening, make the rear spoiler smaller. Make the drivers drive the car.

2. Change pit road management. The open/closed thing is stupid. The pits should never be closed. Let the hand of fate do its thing. Especially on the road courses, for goodness sake. The mandatory 5 laps under caution to stage the pit road race kills the racing. And no more lucky dog. You fell off the lead lap? Well, now that the pits never close, do something about it. Race yourself back into contention.

3. Qualifying: Only fill the top 2/3 of the field during qualifying, with no guarantees to anybody. Then on Saturday, have a short "B Main" to fill the last 1/3. Make the race short enough so that no pit stops are necessary. This would be a perfect 30-minute, prime-time TV show that would showcase the lesser-known drivers and the occasional star who had a bad qualifying attempt.

 

4. Add a road course to the Chase. A third race at Daytona, or a second at Indy, would be perfect.

[j.j.&s.racing]

super bowl sucks hope Daytona good this year

[PAPosse]

The NFL should have instituted a rule where the points were reset at halftime, with a 1 point bonus to the team leading at the break.

[HiTech]

your funny .. maybe nascar should have a half time let the teams adjust and start everyone back on the lead lap...

[BeachBum]

As an X-racer/speed plant promoter - I've been disappointed by NASCAR's upper crust for years. IMO, Brian France (to date) has done a dismal job leading the charge.

 

However I do applaud his willingness to embrace a new idea that might help put warm butts in cold seats. Racing is show business, end of story. If the product doesn't evoke interest and passion, it goes bye-bye.

 

I like that winning means much more now. Now if they would get rid of those ridicules provisional positions and let the fastest 43 cats who qualified for the show RACE, it would be even better!

 

Time will tell if the "winning" plan pays dividends. Personally I think it's the first good thing Brian France has done during his tenure @ NASCAR.

 

I wish him well...

[PAPosse]

Yet, isn't it ironic that if 2013 had this system, Earnhardt Jr., who didnt win a race would be your champion and Matt Kenseth, who won 7 races, wouldn't have been in the top 4?

 

I will concede it is a leap to assume the points would have played out exactly the same, but I think it is an interesting point.

 

I suppose Matt would have just tried harder.

 

Quite honestly, the more I read Eddie Gossage's comments the more I am in disbelief. I really have to wonder if even HE believes what he is saying. He is doing what he is supposed to do, and is planting a push for the finale to be at TMS...I get that.

 

He says a blown tire could cause a driver to be eliminated as if its a good thing. Auto racing in general relies on more things outside the driver and even team control than any other sport I can think of. In a season long schedule, whatever the series, those things tend to even out. Can you imagine a QB saying " the receiver was wide open, but as soon as I let the ball go it just deflated."

 

I do agree the on track product has to improve...but this isnt the fix. When Danica wins her first race after not pitting and the rains come on mile 251 of a 500 mile race she becomes championship contender....think about that scenario.