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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
VENTURINI: Changing The Chase
NASCAR will continue to float its ideas amongst competitors and fans and eventually make a decision based on what is best for all parties...
Wendy Venturini  |  Posted July 07, 2010   Charlotte, NC
The 2009 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers gather at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
At this point in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the talk always turns to the upcoming NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. This week’s chatter about the Chase, though, is about what form it will take next year as opposed to who is in it right now.

Brian France last weekend at Daytona met with the media and disclosed the fact that NASCAR again is exploring its options in revamping the Chase for 2011. His intent is to inject more entertainment and enthusiasm into the season-ending championship run, which I don’t find necessary because the series has had more than its share of excitement and drama this year. Most of that is due to NASCAR loosening the reins and allowing drivers to police themselves. Plus, the Chase still is a new concept, especially with the bonus points allotted to race winners. The competition and race results remain steadfast despite how the Chase is flipped and turned, so I’m not sure a redo is in order.

However, I do think NASCAR will institute at least a couple of changes to the format, and if they’re going to do that, I’d like to see them shorten and tighten it up a bit. Make it shorter and with less competitors.

One of the possible formats currently gaining steam in the garage area is an elimination or playoffs-style format. For instance, somewhere between 12 and 15 drivers would qualify for the 10-race Chase. After every second or third race, a certain number of drivers would be eliminated until a three-driver field is in place for the three final races.

I love the idea of an elimination-style Chase because I think it would bring so much more drama to the championship run. Despite the drivers creating their own drama on and off-track this season, I do think the elimination of teams from the Chase would create more buzz and drive more interest in the sport.

Another alteration I’d like to see is the return of the original 10-driver Chase, as I think 12 is too many. If 12 to 15 participants is non-negotiable, then I definitely prefer the elimination format.

Furthermore, 10 races is overkill for determining a champion – that’s almost the entire final one-third of the season. Regardless of whether we change over to an elimination format, the Chase should be abbreviated to five races. A lot can happen within that time frame and it’s still enough events to properly determine how well or poorly a team is running. Additionally, our season is long enough and I think we’d hold the fans’ attention much tighter with a shootout title run instead of a marathon.
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The bonus points currently paid to race winners is a great idea but I’d explore more than 10 points per race win because our sport was built on a winning heritage.

Finally, I don’t think a road course race should be included if the Chase were shortened. I love going to Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen but neither of those should be included because they’re not indicative of what these drivers do on a weekly basis. If people desire diversity amongst the Chase tracks, I’d suggest throwing a dirt track on the schedule – that would really shake things up! Furthermore, Sonoma can’t realistically host a NASCAR date late in the season, not only because of unfavorable weather but because of the NFL schedule in nearby San Francisco.

NASCAR will continue to float its ideas amongst competitors and fans and eventually make a decision based on what is best for all parties. However, at the end of the day, I don’t think fans are that concerned about the structure of the Chase. Diehard race fans simply want to see which driver visits Victory Lane each weekend and who hoists the Sprint Cup trophy at Homestead in November. How we arrive at that point is just logistics.

Wendy Venturini is a reporter for NASCAR RaceDay Built by the Home Depot. She also serves as a pit road reporter for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and qualifying sessions on SPEED, as well as the ARCA Racing Series races. In July 2007, Venturini became the first woman in history to call an entire race on a national level during the Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway for DirecTV. She joined the SPEED family in 2001 as a feature producer for NASCAR This Morning (now NASCAR RaceDay) on FOX Sports Net and since has worked her way up to reporting duties in the ARCA, Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. Follow Wendy Venturini on Twitter (Twitter: @wendyventurini)

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