NASCAR likely will make tweaks to the Chase format for next season, although probably not changes as extensive as initially assumed when chairman Brian France said in July that the governing body was looking at ways to create a Game 7 atmosphere. Officials likely will expand the playoff field from 12 to 15 and reset the points with two or three races remaining to guarantee there is another drama-filled finish such as the one we have going into Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “What’s really clear to me is when you put drivers in a position where there’s a lot on the line, and they just can’t have a good position and they actually have got to go out and win or lead laps or compete high, they do it,” France said. “You’re seeing that the last several weeks ‘¦ and I bet that’s the case on Sunday. So that tells us that the more we can do, to have incentives — an incentive basis and decide this championship, that puts it all on the line more often — that’s what we need to be thinking about.” France will tell you creating this drama is “exactly what drivers want,” even though Clint Bowyer started off Friday’s media gatherings by saying, “I don’t think they need to change the Chase.” France will tell you it’s what members of NASCAR’s fan council and fans in general want. When it was suggested that there are fans who not only don’t want to see changes but would like to see the Chase eliminated, France scoffed. “You met somebody that’s telling you that?” he asked. Well, yeah. Hundreds, if not thousands. Just read some of the comments from [ESPN’s] readers. “OK,” France said. “Well, look, I mentioned to you that every — almost every league and tournament — is taking a look at their playoff or format style,” France said. “Some will do a little; some will do nothing at all; and some might do something more drastic. And so I don’t know what we are going to do, if anything.”
France doesn’t want to announce any changes that will detract from this race. But change is coming. It could come by the season-ending banquet in Las Vegas. The only change [drivers] seem to want is a rotating schedule for the final 10 races. That is being seriously looked at for 2012 and beyond.(in part from ESPN)
AND Key points from France’s 30-minute Meet the Press here Friday:
— No decision has been made on what tweaks to make to the championship points system.
— He is planning shorter Saturday Nationwide races, coupled with some cost-cutting rules migrating up from the Truck series, such as using engines more than one race.
— He likes ESPN’s production package and on-air talent, but he is reconsidering the starting times of Sunday races.(MikeMulhern.net)(11-20-2010)
