NASCAR: My Thoughts On The Chase As We Head To Texas

[Editors Note: A previous version of this article stated that Matt Kenseth won the 2003 championship without having one a race. The current version has been updated to reflect that he did indeed win one race that season. We here at BTF would like to apologize for that miscommunication].

Okay I will admit it, I predicted Dale Earnhardt Jr. would win the championship this year. It seemed like a Hollywood script. Retiring crew chief, engagement, consistently fast cars, wins finally coming in multiples, top-fives and top-10’s. It was a dream season. Well that went off the rails, but I still would like to review The Chase for the Sprint Cup.

One has to believe that NASCAR is split on this format. On one hand there is added drama with eliminations, on-track incidents with Brad Keselowski and it appears everyone else, yet there are potentially two drivers to advance to Homestead in the final race of the year with a combined total of zero wins. Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have been accumulating points all year with smoke and mirrors and quietly advancing. First making the final 16, then 12, and now 8 drivers. This system was supposed to be all about wins. Actually one of the reasons for the introduction of The Chase for the Sprint Cup ten race playoff was due to the fact Kenseth won the championship in 2003 with the benefit of only one win. I would argue that if one of these two drivers win the championship without a win, NASCAR will have egg on its face and the whole format will have been an embarrassment to the organization as a whole.

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Kevin Harvick has a long road ahead of him as does Keselowski if they are to advance to the final race and compete for that beloved trophy. Keselowski proved in Talladega that he can “win to get in”. Harvick has been fast all year so he shouldn’t be counted out either. Jeff Gordon has yet again proved consistent. I believe had he had two laps more in the Martinsville race he would have punched his ticket to Homestead. To those fans who say that Earnhardt Jr. should have moved over and let Gordon win, I say no way. The man was going for his win. All alliances are aside when racing for a win. The controversy that would have ensued if he did let Gordon pass would not have been good for the sport either. Optics are everything and with NASCAR not having the greatest season in that respect I am glad it didn’t happen.

I will not give a prediction on who will win The Chase for the Sprint Cup as the two drivers I thought had a legitimate shot are no longer players. On another thought how about a Chaser that was eliminated in a previous round is reinstated with a win in a following race (Junior would be back in). Just a thought.

Michael Eliadis is a contributor at beyondtheflag.com on the FanSided network. Follow us on Twitter at: Beyond_the_flag and make sure to “Like” us on Facebook

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