NASCAR Should Consider Constructing A Better Chase Schedule

September 22, 2011

By Nicholas Schwartz

Nicholas Schwartz

After the skies cleared above Chicago and the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup was in the closing few laps, fans were treated to a unfortunately familiar scene. Instead of having cars battle for position and fight to cross the finish line first, drivers were forced to feather the throttle and concentrate on saving every last drip of fuel possible, making sure they don’t ruin their Chase chances by running dry before the checkered flag waved. Tony Stewart coasted to victory relatively unchallenged, as only Kevin Harvick had the courage to drive full speed for the last few miles.

Clogging the Chase schedule with a plethora of 1.5 mile speedways which typically devolve into simple fuel-mileage races is simply not the best option for NASCAR, which should be ensuring that it’s Chase is filled with exciting, hard-charging races -- not ones where drivers are forced to be tentative and keep an eye on the fuel pressure gauge at all times.

As the laps waned, most drivers were stuck in a holding pattern, until eventually nearly the entire field seemingly ran out on the final lap. As Stewart crossed the line, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon all ran out of fuel, losing invaluable points in the Chase standings as they crawled towards the flag. To add insult to injury, Kenseth was penalized by NASCAR and made to be the first driver one lap down after J.J. Yeley pushed him to the line.

ESPN commentator Andy Petree said it best, warning fans that they better get used to strategy races like the one at Chicagoland, because with the lineup of tracks yet to come in the Chase, we’re likely to see a few more ulcer-inducing finishes. It doesn’t have to be this way, however, and I’d like to suggest a new Chase schedule that would not only better reflect the entirety of the schedule and the types of challenges drivers must conquer to truly be crowned the champion, but would also maximize the amount of hard-nosed racing.

When the Chase made its debut, NASCAR basically just took the schedule it had and made the last ten races much more important than they previously had been, with no real regard for what that might mean for the Chase. As the decisive 10 races for a season championship, the Chase should ideally provide a more holistic range of the challenges drivers have to face over the course of the season and the races themselves should be ordered with some thought -- something that hasn’t been accounted for in the current iteration. With that in mind, here’s my lineup for the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup, as the schedule should appear after the final regular season race at Richmond:

• Race 1: Daytona

  The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year and a fitting season-opener, so why not move the July Daytona race back a few months and begin the Chase in similar fashion, under the lights. Talladega could inherit the July race date, and moving the obligatory restrictor-plate Chase race to the very beginning of the schedule eases the pressure on the 12 Chasers. Even if they get caught up in the big one, there’s still nine chances to rebound, rather than the current format, where the Talladega race is too perilously close to the end.

• Race 2: Bristol

  The night race at Bristol is typically one of the most exciting races of the year no matter what the consequence, but placing a date at this track into the pressure-cooker of the Chase would only sweeten the deal. Fans love to see short-track racing, and Bristol almost always delivers a good show.

• Race 3: Pocono

  Some may call races at Pocono boring to watch on television, but there’s no doubting that the Long Pond, Pennsylvania circuit brings something completely different to the table than the usual speedway. The unique triangle design creates one of the toughest challenges all year for drivers, and the skill required to masterfully navigate all three turns dictates that the “tricky triangle” should unquestionably be included in the Chase.

• Race 4: Dover

  Dover remains in the Chase lineup due to the excitement the races typically produce, and the “monster mile” has been a mainstay in the NASCAR schedule for years. At just 400 miles, it also provides a bit of respite for those fans clamoring for shorter races.

• Race 5: Watkins Glen

  It is absolutely astounding that no road course race has been included in the Chase since its inception, but it’s high time to make that change. In order to qualify for the Chase, drivers must prove their worth on road courses twice -- but for whatever reason, those skills aren’t applied when the stakes are highest. Watkins Glen is a monster of a track, and it’s high speed and exciting finishes lead me to select it over Sonoma.

• Race 6: Darlington

  This is more a tribute to the track’s historical stature and demanding nature than anything else, but a race at Darlington is a monumental challenge for even the most experienced drivers, and the Chase should subject its participants to the harshest tests available. The Darlington race earlier this year ended up as a fuel-mileage race, but there’s little chance to eliminate those type of contests entirely.

• Race 7: Charlotte

  Yes, Charlotte has become subject to fuel-mileage finishes in the past, but at this point in the Chase, teams would likely appreciate the break from cross-country travel. Even better, Charlotte is equipped with lights, making for a perfect Saturday night show for fans.

• Race 8: Martinsville

  For one last action-packed short-track race, I can think of no better place than Martinsville. A cagey half-miler with a pit road setup which makes qualifying extremely important, Martinsville has been on the NASCAR circuit since 1948 and has rarely failed to provide for a nail-biting race. The best car usually wins here, and that’s the way it should be so far into the Chase.

• Race 9: Phoenix

  The series would then make one last West-coast swing to Arizona for the second race of the year at Phoenix, which has occupied a spot near the end of the schedule for the past two decades. Phoenix requires both local knowledge of the track and a well-tuned racecar to win, and has been known to produce some outstanding finishes, such as earlier this year when Jeff Gordon edged Kyle Busch for the victory.

• Race 10: Atlanta

  Homestead-Miami gets the bump due to the fact that since the Sprint Cup started visiting South Florida in 1999, there have been only three close finishes in 12 races. Instead, I’d end the season at the track that Homestead replaced. Atlanta has been host to some of the most memorable races in NASCAR history, and serves as a much more competitive locale for the series finale.

If you would like to learn more about Nicholas, please check out his web site at Sports By Schwartz. Nicholas is a Managing editor and sportswriter for The Duke Chronicle at Duke University.

You can contact Nicholas Schwartz at .. Insider Racing News

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.