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Sprint Cup
CUP: Bruton Smith - NASCAR May Have To Ultimately Scrap Chase
The outspoken chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. says NASCAR may have to abandon the Chase if fans continue to show disapproval...
The 12 drivers in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup pose for a picture after solidifying their playoff berths at Richmond International Raceway last September. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
NASCAR is expected to announce changes to its Chase for the Sprint Cup format on Wednesday, but Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith said Tuesday that it may be time for NASCAR to starting thinking about scrapping the Chase completely
“It started off as as good idea but maybe it’s time to look for something [else],” Smith said of the Chase. “I know it’s not as exciting to the fans now as it was initially. … I think it started off being very important, but I don’t think it’s as important as maybe we thought it would be.”
The sanctioning body is considering tweaking the format so that the top 10 in points after 26 races make the Chase and the other two spots go to the next two drivers with the most wins.
Smith said NASCAR may have to consider scrapping the Chase if fans continue to indicate that they don’t like it. SMI tracks host three Chase races – New Hampshire, Charlotte and Texas – but Smith said he isn’t sure those tracks need the Chase to sell tickets.
“We may be looking around here in another year or two and maybe we have done something differently and we no longer have the Chase,” Smith said. “That’s my thinking. In one or two more years, we’ll find out. That’s just my opinion. It has nothing to do with anything [I’ve heard].”
NASCAR also is expected to announce changes to its points system, but Smith reiterated his longtime plea for the share of the race winner’s purse to be increased.
Smith, whose company owns tracks that host 12 Sprint Cup races annually, said increasing the winner’s purse is more important than changes to NASCAR’s points system or changes to the Chase. Former NASCAR champion and current TV analyst Dale Jarrett made a similar plea on Saturday, calling for more bonus points and money for wins.
In the Sprint All-Star Race, winner Kurt Busch earned $1.078 million last year while second place was worth $233,299. The following week in the Coca-Cola 600, Busch, who won again, earned $399,623 while second place paid $299,404.
NASCAR is considering simplifying the points system to a 43-to-1 format with the winner getting 43 points plus a bonus (maybe two or three points) and each place worth one fewer point. The current system runs from 185 points for a win to 34 for last.
“[I want] a big difference between first and second place,” Smith said Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “As a race fan, I’m going to get very interested. What if it is $400,000 difference between first and second? You know there’s going to be a fight to the finish on that one.
“These race fans deserve that. All of a sudden, points play second fiddle to that. That’s what I would like to see. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about the points. I don’t care what you do with the points. … We can cure this whole thing with the purse. Follow the money. These race drivers will follow the money.”
Among other topics Smith discussed during the Sprint Media Tour stop was the possibility of Saturday qualifying. He believes his tracks – Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas – make too much money with Friday qualifying to make the switch to Saturday qualifying.
“We have sponsors for pole day – that’s important for us,” Smith said. “These speedways eat a lot of money. Every day, we get up and they eat. You work real hard to make money in this business, and pole day is another place where we work real hard to show a profit.”
The new rule that bans drivers running for the Sprint Cup title from also competing for the Nationwide Series title has Smith’s approval.
“I think that’s a great decision,” Smith said. “It’s a good series and there’s great racing. As long as you can deliver a great show to the race fans, they will come. I think we will still have a great, great race with or without [Cup guys].
“There were still be some of them in there and there will be some new additions, so I think we will be OK.”
As far as the general health of the sport, Smith said ticket sales have improved over last year and he believes the inaugural Sprint Cup race in July at SMI’s Kentucky Speedway could be bigger than any of his Charlotte races.
“The recession is over,” Smith said. “Unemployment is not, but it takes a while for that. 2011 is going to be great. Fabulous. We can tell that on ticket sales. They are better and better.”
SceneDaily.com • Stanley to share space with DeWalt on Marcos Ambrose car
“It started off as as good idea but maybe it’s time to look for something [else],” Smith said of the Chase. “I know it’s not as exciting to the fans now as it was initially. … I think it started off being very important, but I don’t think it’s as important as maybe we thought it would be.”
The sanctioning body is considering tweaking the format so that the top 10 in points after 26 races make the Chase and the other two spots go to the next two drivers with the most wins.
Smith said NASCAR may have to consider scrapping the Chase if fans continue to indicate that they don’t like it. SMI tracks host three Chase races – New Hampshire, Charlotte and Texas – but Smith said he isn’t sure those tracks need the Chase to sell tickets.
“We may be looking around here in another year or two and maybe we have done something differently and we no longer have the Chase,” Smith said. “That’s my thinking. In one or two more years, we’ll find out. That’s just my opinion. It has nothing to do with anything [I’ve heard].”
NASCAR also is expected to announce changes to its points system, but Smith reiterated his longtime plea for the share of the race winner’s purse to be increased.
Smith, whose company owns tracks that host 12 Sprint Cup races annually, said increasing the winner’s purse is more important than changes to NASCAR’s points system or changes to the Chase. Former NASCAR champion and current TV analyst Dale Jarrett made a similar plea on Saturday, calling for more bonus points and money for wins.
In the Sprint All-Star Race, winner Kurt Busch earned $1.078 million last year while second place was worth $233,299. The following week in the Coca-Cola 600, Busch, who won again, earned $399,623 while second place paid $299,404.
NASCAR is considering simplifying the points system to a 43-to-1 format with the winner getting 43 points plus a bonus (maybe two or three points) and each place worth one fewer point. The current system runs from 185 points for a win to 34 for last.
“[I want] a big difference between first and second place,” Smith said Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “As a race fan, I’m going to get very interested. What if it is $400,000 difference between first and second? You know there’s going to be a fight to the finish on that one.
“These race fans deserve that. All of a sudden, points play second fiddle to that. That’s what I would like to see. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about the points. I don’t care what you do with the points. … We can cure this whole thing with the purse. Follow the money. These race drivers will follow the money.”
Among other topics Smith discussed during the Sprint Media Tour stop was the possibility of Saturday qualifying. He believes his tracks – Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas – make too much money with Friday qualifying to make the switch to Saturday qualifying.
“We have sponsors for pole day – that’s important for us,” Smith said. “These speedways eat a lot of money. Every day, we get up and they eat. You work real hard to make money in this business, and pole day is another place where we work real hard to show a profit.”
The new rule that bans drivers running for the Sprint Cup title from also competing for the Nationwide Series title has Smith’s approval.
“I think that’s a great decision,” Smith said. “It’s a good series and there’s great racing. As long as you can deliver a great show to the race fans, they will come. I think we will still have a great, great race with or without [Cup guys].
“There were still be some of them in there and there will be some new additions, so I think we will be OK.”
As far as the general health of the sport, Smith said ticket sales have improved over last year and he believes the inaugural Sprint Cup race in July at SMI’s Kentucky Speedway could be bigger than any of his Charlotte races.
“The recession is over,” Smith said. “Unemployment is not, but it takes a while for that. 2011 is going to be great. Fabulous. We can tell that on ticket sales. They are better and better.”
SceneDaily.com • Stanley to share space with DeWalt on Marcos Ambrose car
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