Sep 18, 2006

Make the Chase a Real Playoff

Rumors are that NASCAR is considering opening up the Chase for the Championship to more drivers next year.  Associated Press first reported the rumor before the Richmond International Speedway race that determined the final Chase field, and now that rumor has got more steam since Tony Stewart's poor showing in the race bounced him right out of championship contention. NASCAR officials, ever the showpeople, can't be happy that last year's champion isn't even in the hunt this time around.  Where's the drama in that?

So NASCAR must be eyeballing ways to shoehorn more drivers, including the defending champion, into the field for its version of the "playoffs."  Our suggestion is even more radical and a lot more fun -- let more drivers in, but then turn the Chase into a real playoff complete with eliminations. 

Here's our theoretical plan (with no charge to NASCAR for our consulting work).  Allow the top 20 points winners (or the top 19 plus the defending champ if he is somehow not among the Top 20) into the final 10 races.  Everyone else goes home to lick their wounds.  Then, starting with the first race of the Chase, eliminate the driver who comes in last.  You do that with each race until you arrive at the final race of the season with 11 competitors in the field -- let's call them the Lucky 11.

Sure, it seems like a small field, and small fields might make for less drama, but here's the wrinkle -- these are the best, most evenly matched 11 in the sport.  Any one of them could win.  That's drama in and of itself, but the bigger drama is this: crown the winner of that race the NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion.  Put a bonus prize of $5,000,000 to the winner.  Make it a real Super Bowl.  And watch the ratings explode!  One race -- winner takes all.  The best drivers and cars in the sport on the fastest Sunday of the year!  And the guy that takes the checkered flag wins the Championship.  Even the non-race fan can grasp that concept.

Some may say that isn't fair.  But, hell, the current system isn't fair either.  And it's boring, arcane and a TV ratings snoozer.  Further, when you really analyze it, the road to the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup or the NBA finals isn't fair either.  Yet people still accept their champions.

So come on, NASCAR, the ball is in your court.  Give us a real Super Bowl of American racing.  Your fans (and your sponsors) will be glad you did.