Quote:
Originally Posted by John V.
The Champ, I agree with you on the 2 classes of racers. But I have felt that has been the case since the Chase began. The other drivers are out there just to fill the track.
I like the playoff style format. But how can the other drivers participate? Sure they can race for a win. But knowing they could ruin the championship chances of a Chaser, seems to me they have ALWAYS yielded to the Chasers since that format began.
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I also have felt that way since the Chase began. And it is the very reason that I dislike the Chase format so much.
Although there are "teams", stock car racing is not a "team" sport. The Championship deserves to go to the driver that has the best season.
Yet the Chase format allows a driver that is in 30th place in the standings into the Chase if they manage to win a race. Last year, Kyle Larson had 8 Top 5's and 17 Top 10's and wasn't allowed to compete in the Chase because he didn't have a win. Meanwhile, AJ Allmendinger had 2 Top 5's and 5 Top 10's and gets in the Chase because he won a race.
Which driver had the better season?
It's no longer necessary to make all the races to win the Championship. The Busch brothers both missed races - Kurt 3 races due to suspension and Kyle 11 races because he broke his leg in a non Cup race.
Under the original Championship format - using today's points system - Joey Logano would be in first place in the points. Under the Chase format - this incredible season (6 wins, 20 Top 5's and 26 Top 10's) could end up going for naught as he is in 8th place and unless he wins one of the next 2 races will most likely be eliminated.
#2 under the classic Championship format would be Kevin Harvick with 3 wins, 20 Top 5's and 25 Top 10's.
The current point leader is Jeff Gordon with 1 win, 5 Top 5's and 18 Top 10's. And he is the only Chaser currently guaranteed to have the opportunity to race for the Championship at Homestead.
Here is how the standings would look:
1) #22-Joey Logano (C8), 1213
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (C4), 1192 -21
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (EC), 1109 -104
4) #2-Brad Keselowski (C6), 1094 -119
5) #78-Martin Truex Jr. (C3), 1065 -148
6) #11-Denny Hamlin (EC), 1041 -172
7) #48-Jimmie Johnson (EC), 1033 -180
8) #20-Matt Kenseth (EC), 1009 -204
9) #19-Carl Edwards (C5), 1003 -210
10) #41-Kurt Busch (C7), 998 -215
11) #24-Jeff Gordon (C1), 997 -216
12) #31-Ryan Newman (EC), 969 -244
13) #1-Jamie McMurray (EC), 958 -255
14) #27-Paul Menard (EC), 887 -326
15) #43-Aric Almirola, 877 -336
16) #5-Kasey Kahne, 872 -341
17) #15-Clint Bowyer (EC), 840 -373
18) #42-Kyle Larson, 802 -411
19) #16-Greg Biffle, 796 -417
20) #3-Austin Dillon, 745 -468
21) #18-Kyle Busch (C2), 738 -475
22) #13-Casey Mears, 712 -501
23) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 687 -526
24) #17-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 664 -549
25) #14-Tony Stewart, 661 -552
26) #9-Sam Hornish, Jr., 657 -556
27)#10-Danica Patrick, 640 -573
This should be a two person race for the Championship (IMHO).
Joey should be in the catbird seat with three races to go and Harvick the only driver with a good opportunity to catch him.
Dale Jr. and Brad might have a slim chance if both Kevin and Joey have problems.
Everybody else would be mathematically eliminated.
But in contrast, Kyle Busch who has had the 21st best season, is in second place right now...
