Happy Hour: Breaking down the Chase

Vegas, baby, Vegas. At least that’s what I’m saying now, before I’ve hit the tables. I’ll let you know how I fare.

Now, let’s get to the mailbag:

I’m so sick of hearing people whine about the chase. Anyone saying Gordon would have six and Johnson one or now two is just kidding themselves. Let’s look logically at some numbers.

2004 – Johnson had a 232 point lead over Gordon and a lock for the Chase. They admittedly go into “testing” mode and give up 292 points over six races between Pocono and Richmond. Who in there right mind can argue they would have done the same in the old points system and not been points racing instead of testing.

Winner – Johnson takes his first championship. Kurt Busch is out of luck.

2005 – Stewart no question.

2006 – Would have been a great battle for Kenseth and Johnson. Under 2003 points Kenseth would win, under 2006 points Johnson wins. Although going into the last race under the Chase Johnson went into that race with a 63-point lead and ran a defensive top-10 finish to clinch. If they would have went in one point apart the final race could have been one of the best battles in history.

Winner – Johnson wins his 2nd championship.

2007 – Without a chase Jeff Gordon wins his 5th championship no questions asked.

2008 – With 2008 points some argue Edwards wins. Under pre-Chase 2003 points, Johnson wins. But I will argue this. Edwards won 2 races in the chase using fuel mileage. If he was in a tight points battle with Johnson would they have been so desperate to risk those fuel mileage races or would they have played it safe like the 48 team did.

Winner – Johnson wins his 3rd championship.

2009 – Johnson wins his 4th championship under any of the points systems.

So I say Chase or no chase Johnson wins 4 championships … and Chase or no Chase I’m listening to these guys whine about Johnson dominating. I wonder what the excuses will be next year when he wins his 5th in a row!

Denver Matheson
Ontario

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Denver. What are you trying to do here entering logic into the equation? Johnson is a fraud of a champion. Just look at the numbers. Those 29 wins over the last four seasons (most in the Cup Series) and those 21 poles (most in the Cup Series) and those 64 top-five finishes (most in the Cup Series) and those 6,340 laps led (most in the Cup Series) were all thanks to the Chase format. Without it, none of that would have happened.

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Jay, you and the rest of the NASCAR media under the watchful eye of Bill France Jr. can type about the Chase until your fingers bleed. It is a made for TV event that just so happens to have coincided with NASCAR’s steady decline in ratings.

The measure of a true NASCAR Champion will always be the guy that held the points lead over the course of an entire season, anything less comes with an asterisk.

I happen to like Jimmie Johnson and think his legacy has been tarnished because he’s had to race in the made for TV mockery in a match box car.

It’s time for NASCAR to listen to the fans, dramatically alter the schedule and get rid of half the mile and a halfs. Get rid of the beaver tail on the back and the concave front and make something that allows these guys to race side by side … and most of all, make the first race and the 5th race and the 30th race mean as much as the last race.

The old points system worked and fans came. If nothing else, look at the ratings and attendance and try and draw a different conclusion.

John Clarke
Laguna Niguel, Calif.

I understand that some people prefer the old system to the new one, but don’t hate the player just because he’s dominating under a set of rules handed to him. If you’re one of those who contends that Johnson wins because he’s “manipulated” the rules to work to his advantage, then I ask you what’s preventing anyone else from doing the same?

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Hi Jay, I’m so sick and tired of the whiners and so called purists of the sport. Why doesn’t anyone complain that Tony Stewart’s second title was won with in the Chase format? Why doesn’t anyone remember that Jeff Gordon has stated the Chase format is more difficult to win a championship in then the old system?

Last and certainly not least, from someone who only started watching NASCAR seven years ago, winning is how you measure a champion. In every other sport, you have to actually win the contest to win a championship. My introduction into NASCAR was watching Matt Kenseth win a championship in 2003 by winning one race all year … huh? Are you kidding me?

By the way Jimmie won three that year and finished second.

Purists believe that a driver who consistently finishes races, rides around and stays out of trouble, yet doesn’t have to win but one time all year is a champion?

Why doesn’t NASCAR award the championship to the driver who wins the most races each year? No points, just wins. That’s the way every other sport is decided. How exciting would seeing the best drivers battle for a winner-take-all each week?

Congrats Jimmie, no matter what the critics say, yourself and Jeff Gordon have proven to me that you’re the best in the sport today.

Robert

Love Robert’s point. A lot of fans complain when drivers points race. You can’t say that about Johnson. So why all the hating? The next emailer has an idea.

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Why does NASCAR not see that one mega team owner and his three drivers finishing 1-2-3 is why so many fans such as myself and many friends have stopped going to races or even watching them as in the past?

If NASCAR would limit teams to only two cars, instead of letting one mega team dominate, there would be more parity and less predictability as to who would win. It is boring now, has lost the interest of so many, and most of the one’s who do not like JJ are really focusing their hate toward him when really they are fed up with the present system and NASCAR.

Now it is a big deal when someone other than one of the two big teams win because it happens so seldom.

I also wonder if you and other writers are so close to the racing that you cannot see outside the box and this is why you support the present system as if their is no way to improve it, or are you prevented by NASCAR from speaking your mind and seeing, as so many who do not go anymore, that their needs to be change?

I do wonder about you and others, telling us it is great the way it is, nothing can be done to make it more competitive etc.

Well, anyway, I still have Talladega on tape to watch when I have trouble sleeping, it works faster than a sleep aid!

James Reid

I’ve said it before: mega-teams are killing rivalries in the sport which, in turn, is why there seems to be a lack of much-needed drama. Where’s the fun in Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin patting each other on the back all the way to the final bell?

As for media liking the present system, you may be onto something James when it comes to why many in the media (including myself) defend the Chase format.

I’ve covered a lot of sports, and NASCAR by far is the most difficult. Why? Because there aren’t as many stories to follow as there are in virtually every other sport.

In NASCAR, you start with about 20 drivers fans really care about. Of those, the vast majority of you support between six and 10. Of those, one dominates over all others.

As the season rolls along, we media folk scour the garage searching for stories from drivers, crew chiefs and maybe even some crew members. Come September, we’ve covered a lot of bases.

Granted, baseball writers have done the same thing, but when it gets down to the World Series, they still have 25 members of the Yankees (not including George Steinbrenner) and 25 members of the Phillies to choose from. Without the Chase, NASCAR writers would have two, three if we’re lucky. So the Chase is a welcome storyline. It keeps us busy for the final 10 weeks of an already long season.

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OK, the end of another season for NASCAR. As a 25-plus year fan of NASCAR, my season ended many months ago. I wrote to you in Feb ’09 asking which HMS driver would win this year. There was no doubt that HMS would dominate the season, I just figured Jr. would learn how to drive and be more involved.

What amazes me, Petty, Jr Johnson, Waltrips, Penske and all the long time racers and owners are unable to figure out how to run cars, and HMS finishes in the top year after year. If Jr. could figure out how to drive then HMS could have swept the top four spots.

Good thing there is a cap on the number of cars a owner can field, if not, HMS would field all 43 starters. Wouldn’t that be fun for all you HMS lovers.

News flash for NASCAR, all humans on the face of the earth are not HMS fans, I know this is a shock to you and all other NASCAR/HMS Employees, I really think the two are interchangeable.

For me, I stopped watching all NASCAR events, they all lead to the big boys which in turn leads to HMS. For HMS to continue to win is like watching the Yankees win all the time. It’s good for the pockets of HMS but not good overall for NASCAR. It’s ok to delete this e mail now, I know you will.

George Smith
Ocala, Fla.

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I don’t really believe anyone “breaks” anyone’s record as such, to many variables between “NOW” AND THEN. Hank Aaron OVER Babe Ruth? Hank had better bats, Babe had a longer distance to hit a homer, Hank had pitchers throwing 90mph fast balls. Petty had street machines. We have the CoT.

I been around NASCAR FOR 50 YEARS [ACTUALLY MORE]. You can’t break a record. You make a new one Petty =the greatest. Johnson =the greatest to be. But it is all different. What Do You Think?

Paul Denton
Orlando, Fla.

I agree with you that in some cases comparing records is often a futile and unfair endeavor, but if you don’t allow for them to be broken then records are essentially meaningless. Does Buck Ewing still hold the record for most home runs in a season because he hit 10 in 1883? Or is it Ned Williamson who hit 27 in 1884? Or is it both and everyone else who’s bettered Williamson’s number since?

Besides, records serve a purpose. They’re something for people to aspire for; they’re something to help fans like you me to distinguish between the good and the great.

I like records, and I appreciate seeing the effort it takes to break them, fairly of course.

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While I thought that some of the racing this season was just so-so I found comfort and excitement in two areas.

First was the Johnson’s march to the front culminating in his 4th title. I can say I savored it because it was watching sports history – a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Second, and most importantly, was watching Kyle Busch. I was a KB hater a few years ago and I have come to love his spirit and his ability. If he was racing, be it Camping World Trucks, Nationwide, or Sprint, I was sure to be watching. And time after time Kyle made it worthwhile. He has won a big fan.

And thanks to you for your insight and guidance. Your articles are always interesting and informative.

John Berry
Lewiston, Maine

Thanks for the kind words, Johns. And you’re right, records allow us to tell our grandkids we witnessed something special. And for my money, there’s no driver worth the price of admission more than Kyle Busch.

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Here is a solution to all the carping about the “Chase” vs. the old format. When referring to those drivers who have won under the “Chase” format, call them “Chase Champions”. Refer to the drivers who previously won under the old format as “Winston Cup Champions”. At least until we old purists are all dead!

Jesse Pully
Burdett, N.Y.