September 28, 2005

By Rebecca Gladden

The Date:.. January 20, 2004

The Location:.. NASCAR CEO Brian France's bedroom

The Scene:.. Mr. France, asleep but restless, is anxious about a major announcement being made first thing in the morning.

Brian France (dreaming): Well, tomorrow's the day I'm announcing the new Chase for the Championship points system. This is my biggest decision since taking over as CEO. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

(A miniature Brian France appears on his right shoulder, dressed as an angel).

Angel France: You know, Brian, maybe you are acting too soon. After all, you've only been CEO of NASCAR for a few months. You know what they say, "Discretion is the better part of valor." Are you sure you wouldn't like to think about this a little more - maybe talk it over with the drivers, sponsors and team owners? Meet with some fans to get their input?

(Another miniature France appears on his left shoulder, dressed as a devil).

Devil France: Lighten up, Brian. The new points system is pure genius! It will create drama like never before. You don't want another boring season like last year, do you?

Brian France (sounding unsure): Well, I didn't think it was that boring. NASCAR is the most exciting sport on earth!

Devil France: Brian, baby! Matt Kenseth as '03 champion? B-o-r-i-n-g! The guy wins one race all season and still gets the title based on (rolls eyes) - consistency! That's not what racing is all about! Ryan Newman had 8 wins last season - 8 - and finished in (sneering) 6th place!

Brian France: Well, that's true …

Angel France: Now wait just a minute. What's wrong with consistency? He earned the most points over a grueling 36-race season. That makes him worthy of the title.

Devil France: What's wrong with it? Nothing at all - if you like a system where everyone knows who the champion will be two months ahead of time. Nothing, if you like to watch the TV ratings drop like a rock once the NFL kicks off. Nothing, if you find consistency more valuable than actually winning races.

Brian France (stirs restlessly, mumbling): Championship … ratings … NFL … consistency … boring ... new system …

Devil France: C'mon, France. You know you're making the right decision. This new points system is brilliant! You'll have drama, excitement, finishes down to the wire year after year! You'll crush those NFL ratings like an elephant stepping on an ant.

Brian France (brightening): You're right. This is a great idea! Now I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.

Angel France: Brian, please don't act hastily. You know, I have had a glimpse of the future under the new points system. It's not the perfect solution that this guy (motions toward Devil France) wants you to think it is.

Brian France: What do you mean? What could possibly go wrong?

Angel France: For one thing, the "new" system will still reward consistency over winning. In fact, your champion in the first Chase season will have 3 wins, but the 2nd-place driver will have 8, and the 3rd-place driver will have 5. Even the 5th-place driver will have 6 wins next season - twice as many as the so-called champion.

Brian France (flabbergasted): But, but - that's impossible! The new system is supposed to change all that.

Devil France: Don't listen to him! He's just an old stick-in-the-mud anyway. He wouldn't know a good idea if it jumped up and bit him.

Angel France: Sure, the system will create drama - but at what price? The tension comes from the fact that the points are manipulated after 26 races. Your 1st-place driver might be ahead of 10th by hundreds of points, but the new system will take away that lead to create parity through artificial means.

Brian France (nervously): Are you sure?

Angel France: Yes, Brian. As I said, I can see into the future. In the second year of the Chase, the 1st-place driver will be 641 points ahead of 10th going into Richmond. After that race, his lead will be reduced to a mere 45 points over 10th.

Devil France: And your point is …?

Angel France: That the excitement you will be boasting about in the future will not be arrived at honestly. It's contrived - manufactured - for the sake of TV ratings.

Devil France: But all the drivers will be competing under the same rules - so none of them can really complain. As for the fans? Pfffft! They'll complain no matter what you do.

Angel France: The drivers will complain at first - some of them quite vehemently. But they will be ignored and eventually, they will be forced to accept the new system.

Brian France: Well, that doesn't really sound so bad. I mean, overall, the new format will bring a lot of attention to NASCAR, right?

Angel France: Yes, that's true. Overall, TV viewership will improve. But fans of the drivers who don't make the Chase will be shocked to learn that their drivers are rarely even mentioned in the last 10 races of the season. And the sponsors of those drivers will be grumbling, too.

Devil France: Grumbling, shmumbling! Who cares about any of that? It's all about the numbers, right France?

Brian France: Well, yes …

Angel France (shaking head): I see I'm still not getting through to you, Brian. What if I told you that in the Chase's second season (hesitates) …

Brian France: What? What?

Angel France (shuddering): It's almost too painful to say.

Brian France: Please, I must know!

Angel France: Well, I am normally not allowed to discuss specific people when it comes to their future activities. But, in this case, it may be the only way to reach you.

Brian France: Go on …

Angel France: Brian, in the second year under the new format (takes a deep breath), Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon are both going to miss the Chase! Completely miss it!

Brian France: No!

Angel France (hangs head): Yes, I'm afraid it's true.

Brian France: I can't believe it. The Chase without our two biggest stars? How will we survive? What happens to the ratings? What about merchandise sales? What will the sponsors say?!

Devil France: Dude, chill! Don't listen to this windbag. He's just trying to unnerve you. We both know that there's no way those two guys could miss the Chase in the same year. And even if they do - so what? It's not like they're the only drivers out there. I'll just stir up a little trouble with some crashes and cuss words and paybacks during the second Chase season, and we'll be good to go.

Brian France: Hmm ….

Angel France: Here's something else to consider, Brian. In what other sport do you see competitors battling it out for all the money and glory of 11th place? 11th place! Doesn't that sound odd to you?

Brian France: I guess so, but still …

Angel France: The bottom line is this - do you want the champion to be the driver who has the best record over the entire season, or just over the last 10 races? Do you want him to keep the points lead he legitimately earned, or see that lead evaporate in favor of spurious competition? I mean, couldn't other sports be just as exciting if they narrowed the score near the end of the game or the season? Think, man, think!

Devil France: Oh, go jump in a lake! C'mon, Brian, baby. You know I'm right. Don't question yourself now. The new points system is just what this sport needs to inject some fresh life into it. That old sourpuss isn't going to accept your ideas no matter how good they are. Whiners like him can't deal with change. They always talk about the "good old days," when everything was just sooo perfect. Well you know what, pal? A little change is good for the soul. Mwah, ha-ha-ha!

Angel France (pleading): Brian, don't listen to him! He doesn't care about NASCAR. Do some more research! Look at the data! For Pete's sake, man, do some focus groups!

Brian France (tossing and turning, claps hands over ears): Stop! Stop! (Suddenly bolts uprights in bed, wide awake). That's it - my mind is made up. The Chase it is!

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. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.