Updated Nov. 6
The suddenly competitive Chase for the Sprint Cup championship battle, changes to the Chase format, how the economy is affecting NASCAR and the future of one of stock car racing's most successful developmental series top this week's topics.
From: lesbeebe
Pete, in fact, in the World Series, you can throw out 3 poor performances. It's when you have the 4th one you lose.
That's a valid point and in reference to Jack Roush calling for NASCAR to throw out the worst performance by a driver in the Chase. But I still think the NASCAR championship should be decided by what happens over the course of the 10 races that make up the playoffs, and while you can lose games in the World Series or NBA and NHL playoffs, maybe a better analogy is to the NFL where it's one and done. You lose a playoff game and you go home. In NASCAR a bad race can be overcome with a better effort the next week or the week after and shouldn't just be dismissed.
From: Carey
Weren't you the same guy writing about how boring the Chase is all week last week? The same guy who was calling for changes to the Chase format?
I did write and say that, yes, the Chase was boring but that was because Jimmie Johnson was running away with things. The only format change I'd employ is a separate points system for the Chasers, but even under the scenario Johnson would have been way up on Edwards -- until Texas. Now all of a sudden there is a sliver of excitement that has ramped up the interest in the championship, which is why NASCAR created the format in the first place.
From: sindaemunny
I've been watching racing since The King was the biggest winner, and I don't remember the fans being asked to focus totally on who wins the championship. Back then, each individual race was equally important, and the champion was just the team that managed to keep it all together for an entire season. I think the biggest mistake NASCAR has made and it shows in the attendance and TV ratings is trying to put all the focus on the title, instead of making each race a gem in its own setting.
That's a good point and adding a playoff format like the Chase does kind of water down some of the races during the regular season, similar to other sports. But it's a different era in professional sports and I think fans want a payoff, something to build to, and a championship format like the Chase was created with that in mind. I think increasing the number of points to the winner of every race and adding more money to the winner's purse might ramp up the importance of individual events and, to your point, make every week a little more special and something to remember.
From: meier237
Why is it when dismal news needs to be conveyed, there is always a report that includes DEI and no one else. JR Motorsports, Hendrick, Roush, Ganassi have all laid people off already and will continue to do so. DEI has not laid off ONE single person, YET! They most likely will, but with negative articles like yours, it sure is not helping their cause or future. I am sure you care. Just proves a point, more so, that the media loves to ride coat tails of anything negative. Just remember, DEI did not start the layoff race. Other teams have beat them by a long shot.
DEI is certainly not alone among teams feeling the crunch of these hard economic times and -- although, as you point, out the company hasn't reduced its workforce yet -- unless something dramatic happens in the next two weeks there will be a mass exodus following the final race of the year at Homestead. DEI is now in serious discussions with Ganassi about a possible merger, but even if that comes to fruition, it most likely will only keep two of its current four teams alive. GEM and Petty Enterprises are also on the list of these middle-tier teams trying to find any way possible to survive by looking at a merger or partnership alliance with another operation.
From: helix
What is the status of the Hooter's Pro Cup Series? I know a lot of the current drivers in NASCAR came from that circuit and have heard its future is up in the air.
The Hooter's restaurant chain has decided to end its sponsorship of the series after this season, putting the popular short-track stock-car circuit in jeopardy. The USAR sanctioning body told teams after its final race of the season last week in Rockingham it was working hard on finding new funding to keep the circuit alive, but several reports have indicated nothing has been found and that the series will indeed disband. Perhaps some drivers and teams will migrate to one of NASCAR's regional tours in its East or West series, but if the Pro Cup Series is discontinued it will be a big blow for short-track stock-car racing, not unlike when the original ASA Series went out of business several years ago.
