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July 16, 2010
By Rebecca Gladden
Back in September of 2005, I had a bit of fun at NASCAR CEO Brian France's expense with the article "The Devil Made Him Do It." Originally published at InsiderRacingNews.com, I recently reposted it on my blog, www.WriteSides.com.
In the piece, I wrote a dream sequence in which a sleeping Brian France has a debate with his own conscience about whether the new 'Chase for the Championship' points format was a good idea. As the dream ends, France bolts upright in bed and declares, "The Chase it is!"
With rumors swirling this week that more drastic changes to the Chase are being considered "to make sure it's giving us the biggest impact moments" (as France said recently), I decided it was time to reprise the original concept for another imagined dream sequence …
The Date: July 2010
The Location: NASCAR CEO Brian France's bedroom
The Scene: Mr. France is asleep but restless, as if something is troubling him. A dream begins and he finds himself at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Banquet in November, hearing the emcee's voice on the PA system.
Banquet Emcee: And now, it's my pleasure to present your 2010 Sprint Cup Champion, winner of five consecutive Cup titles, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Mr. Jimmie Johnson!
(The crowd murmurs and renders polite but unenthusiastic applause. France tosses and turns in bed).
Brian France (to himself): I've got to make a decision about the Chase for the Championship! But I'm not sure what to do.
(A miniature Brian France appears on his right shoulder, dressed as an angel).
Angel France: Brian, don't do anything rash. You know what they say, haste makes waste.
(Another miniature France appears on his left shoulder, dressed as a devil).
Devil France: Brian, seriously! Do you think this sport can handle another boring Johnson championship? It's past time to shake things up! Watching Johnson on TV is like watching moss grow on the side of a rock and Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed the Chase again!
Angel France: That criticism is unfair! Johnson earned his championships. What is this sport about, anyway? Creating drama for TV ratings or rewarding the best team?
Brian France: Well, um …
Devil France (laughing hysterically): Is that really a question? Ha ha ha! This sport is about one thing: money! Ratings mean revenue and without revenue, we got nothing! Right, Brian?
Brian France: Well, I don't know. I mean, we need good ratings to build the sport and attract sponsors. But we still want the racing to be real.
Devil France (does a spit take): Real?! You mean like those 'real' debris cautions to bunch up the field? The 'real' way the points are manipulated at the start of the Chase to create drama - even without making any more changes? The 'real' way the top-35 are guaranteed a starting spot, even if they don't have the fastest car? That kind of 'real'?
Brian France: I know, but …
Angel France (sympathetically): Brian, don't listen him! He doesn't know how hard your job is! You have to walk a fine line between satisfying the racing purists and watching the bottom line. Everyone understands that.
Brian France: Thanks.
Devil France (rolls eyes): Look, France - the TV ratings are in the toilet, ticket sales stink, and sponsors are leaving the sport in droves. You know what you have to do!
Brian France: You mean …?
Devil France: Exactly! You said it yourself. The Chase needs BIG IMPACT MOMENTS! More of them! Lots of them!
Angel France (cautiously): What does that mean, exactly?
Brian France: Well, it means I'd have to make some really big changes to the Chase again.
Angel France: For example …?
Devil France: Geez, you're slow. Does he have to spell it out for you? Use your imagination! We've got to shake it up, add more drama! Maybe eliminate one driver each week so that by the final race, there would be just three drivers competing for the title. Maybe …
Angel France (gasps): No! That would be wrong! It completely ignores history and the way the championship has always been decided.
Devil France (smacks forehead): Dude, you don't get it! It's not about what's 'right' or 'fair.' It's about what sells tickets and attracts TV viewers! As Brian himself said, "The big design is to have playoff-type moments that only can be, in any sport, created when there's a lot on the line at any one moment."
Angel France (shocked): Brian, you said that?
Brian France: Well, yes.
Angel France: Oh, dear. Where did I go wrong? It seems I've lost you!
Devil France: That's right, pal! He's all mine now. Go ahead, Brian! Make those Chase changes. Go big! Go crazy! The bigger the better, I always say. I mean, who do you really have to please, those lame old race fans who can't cope with change? Or the team owners and sponsors and advertisers with the deep pockets?
Angel France (pleading): Brian, don't do it! For the sake of the sport, don't make the Chase even more contrived than it already is.
Devil France: Brian, buddy! Trust me! Have I ever let you down?
Brian France (flicks Angel France off his shoulder, then shakes hands with Devil France): You're right. I know what I have to do … BIG IMPACT MOMENTS coming right up!
Follow Rebecca on Twitter: @nscrwriter
You can contact Rebecca at.. Insider Racing News
You Can Read Other Articles By Rebecca
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.
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