MRM
Team Owner
Chase format could change?: NASCAR officials are meeting with drivers and team owners to discuss possible changes in the sport, including how the Sprint Cup champion is determined. While NASCAR c hairman Brian France has been careful not to make abrupt modifications to the title Chase since its debut in 2004, it seems as if changes are due. The Chase field expanded from 10 to 12 drivers in 2007. NASCAR also began awarding 10 bonus points that year for each race a driver wins before the Chase. NASCAR can examine the Chase and other topics because of the sense that the racing has improved. So the meetings this past week - some still need to be held - provide NASCAR a chance to discuss the Chase, testing, what to do with Cup drivers in Nationwide Series races and other topics. "They're certainly looking at the future," said Jeff Burton, who joined Richard Childress Racing officials in meeting with NASCAR last week. "Every conversation I've ever been in with NASCAR, once a year there's a conversation about the Chase. Does it work? Could it be better? That's almost an annual conversation." With the Chase, some of the questions being asked are about the number of competitors, the format and how to determine the champion. When asked about possible changes about how the champion is determined, Mark Martin said he told series officials: "Go for it." Dale Earnhardt Jr., who also met with series officials last week, said: "I didn't get a sense that there was a guarantee on any major changes." Among some of the ideas involving the Chase would be expanding the field. Based on the percentage of teams that make the Chase (27.9 percent of a 43-car field make it), NASCAR trails other pro sports when compared to the percentage of teams that make the playoffs. One suggestion tossed in the meetings is resetting the points for the top drivers heading into the final race.(Virginian Pilot), see past news, riules, comparisons and more on my Chase News page.(6-16-2010)
