December 20, 2010
By Matthew Pizzolato
Matthew Pizzolato
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Is anyone ever going to be able to beat Jimmie Johnson on the track?
Apparently not, at least according to NASCAR. Remember the old saying about how actions speak louder than words? It would appear that NASCAR officials have little faith in any of the other drivers in the garage.
Despite having one of the closest championships in the history of the sport, NASCAR officials continue to look at ways of tweaking the Chase. Why? There can be only one reason.
One of the biggest complaints that fans have nowadays is that they are tired of Johnson winning all the time. If Johnson had not won his fifth consecutive Championship this season, chances are that there would be no talk of making changes to the Chase. Officials would probably be saying that the points format had done what it was designed to do.
Yet it appears NASCAR is willing to go to any length to give the fans what they want, a new champion.
There is talk that NASCAR is seriously considering major changes to the Chase format yet again. One of the ideas being discussed is awarding bonus points to the driver that is leading the points at the end of the regular season.
Even Jimmie Johnson agrees with the idea.
"I feel there should be something: points, cash prize, plastic trophy, something... a six-pack of beer... something for winning that first 26," Johnson was quoted as saying in a David Newton article on espn.com.
This is something that should have been done several years ago and that fans and drivers alike have wanted to see for a long time. Why has NASCAR waited until Johnson has five consecutive championships before finally considering making that change?
The other two ideas being discussed are both completely ludicrous and would serve only to cheapen the Chase. Expanding the field from twelve drivers to fifteen drivers would be a complete waste of time. NASCAR has already expanded the field once, from ten to twelve, and that had absolutely no effect on the Championship.
If anything, officials should lower the number of drivers that can qualify for the Chase to eight. That would eliminate the teams that barely qualify for the Chase and then don't even challenge for the championship. It would ensure that only championship contenders make the final cut.
Another idea being discussed is resetting the points again during the Chase. There can be only one reason that officials are looking at such a device that would be little more than a publicity stunt.
With the 2010 season being the exception, historically, Jimmie Johnson tends to build an almost insurmountable lead and has the championship pretty much wrapped up with two or three races left in the season.
Making changes to the points format would be well and good if it were flawed. Yet clearly after the 2010 season, there is nothing wrong with the Chase, so what possible reason could NASCAR have for changing the system?
If you would like to learn more about Matthew, please check out his web site at matthew-pizzolato.com.
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