Way back in 1975, NASCAR decided to change its points system, using an idea jotted down on a cocktail napkin at the Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach, Fla. Pretty humble beginnings, no? What if the Chase had become a part of NASCAR back in 1975? How would history have changed with a Chase back then? Drivers probably would have driven differently, which would have led to changed results and altered points championships during the years covered here. But lets play the ‘what if?” game and take the historical results and translate them into the current Chase system. See the following articles for each: same champs in 1975-1979, but in 1980-1984, 3 of the 5 would have had different champions, none for Earnhardt, 3 for DW and Gant would had won one; in 1985-1989 all five chases produce the same champ as the regular system did. Whew, some shake ups in the 1990-1994 chases, Earnhardt, who won 4 championships in the classic points, Earnhardt would had won only two Chase in that span and Kulwicki would not had won his championship with Kyle Petty winning in 92, Gant in 1991 and Rusty Wallace in 1993. in the 1995-1999 block, Earnhardt would had won in 1995 instead of Gordon, but Gordon would had won in 1996 instead of Terry Labonte, in 1997 Jarrett would had took it and not Gordon, Gordon in 1998 and Bobby Labonte would had won in 1999 not Jarrett, so only Gordon in 1998 would had been the same. and in the final block 2000-2003: Bobby Labonte still wins in 2000, Marlin beats out Gordon in 2001, Kurt Busch in 2002 instead of Stewart and in 2003 Johnson would had gotten his first championship, Kenseth, who won using the old system that year, would had been 8th in the 2003 chase. Here are the links to each block, with standings and Ancient Chaseology: 1975-1979 Ancient Chaseology: 1980-1984 Ancient Chaseology: 1985-1989 Ancient Chaseology: 1990-1994 Ancient Chaseology: 1995-1999 Ancient Chaseology: 2000-2003 as Matthew Willis calculated all the seasons 1974 thru 2003.(9-11-2012) and see more history on Jayskis Chase History page and the 2013 Chase News page
