Are 12 Cup Chasers Too Tight in Turn 2?

This is a short supposition on my part, based somewhat on fact-less observations over the past year of how NASCAR is handling the Chase for the Cup. (That's tech speak for I'm going to rant off the handle and I'm dragging Charlie Turner of On Pit Row into the fray with me.)

When the Chase started in 2004, we had it set to the top 10 drivers from a 43 man field who would move on to the battle with each other within their own points structure. IE: Giving them a massive bonus over the rest of the field so no one else could catch them. This eliminated just about anyone else from competing for the championship, even if all 10 drivers crashed out the remainder of the races. And that first year, it was pretty exciting to see Kurt Busch win the championship by 8 points, even after fortuitously losing a wheel at the head of pit road.

We then had a 35 point spread behind Tony Stewart with Edwards and Biffle tied for 2nd in points in 2005.

2006, Johnson had a bigger point spread (56) in front of Kenseth, Hamlin, Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.. In 2007, Johnson extended that win margin to 77 points over Jeff Gordon, but then had a massive 357 point advantage over 3rd place finisher, Clint Bowyer. (So much for tight point races)

Then when Tony Stewart failed to make the 10 man field in '06, we now have the top 12 drivers competing for the championship? Hmm.

Additionally, despite the fact that this is probably one of the easiest programming stints in the world of web programming, when I went to NASCAR's website to look this information up, no matter what year you look at, they're treating the standings across the years as if there was a always a 12 man field chasing the cup. I'm sure it's not their intent, but it sure could be confusing to the new fan.

So now that I'm done ranting all over the board, my real question is:

If they insist on limiting the year end competition to top performing drivers, are 12 drivers too many?

Bruce says yes. Heck. I thought 10 were too many, but strangely, when Tony Stewart did not make the chase and ended up 11th, the next year included 12 drivers. The timing seemed ... interesting indeed.

With 10 drivers, that incorporated over 23% of a 43 driver field. With 12 drivers, we now see almost 28% of the 43 driver field in the chase.

At this point, I think they should just start eliminating drivers at the Daytona 500! Who ever comes in 43rd is automatically eliminated from the chase, and weed down, one race at a time. OK, I know, not realistic, but it sure would be interesting right from the get go!! And then we can play wild cards in the points standings with 11 races to go!.

Go crazy Charlie! I gave lots of different directions to go with this one!!!

Charlie Turner: I have no problem with twelve being the number. Before it was twelve, it was ten plus any driver within 400 points of the regular season points leader. Nobody ever came close. I think that this, combined with not only Stewart, but Jeff Gordon and Junior, not making the "playoffs" forced NASCAR's hand into increasing the number on drivers "in". I actually think that twelve is about right. There wasn't a driver that didn't make it this year that you could say "hurt" the sport by not making it. The real excitement of the whole deal is the Race to the Chase. Another way to qualify, on some wild-card basis wouldn't be bad either. Thirteen would be an interesting number. Fan vote? Ugliest girlfriend vote? How about the top finishing single car team is in regardless of where they actually finish in the standings?

~~~

With that said, Charlie pondered: If the rumors turn out to be true, and Gillette-Evernham Motorsports buys Bill Davis Racing and becomes a Toyota team, is it a good thing for NASCAR and the sport?

See what we have to say over On Pit Row.