The Chase for the Sprint Cup: Fan Reactions to the Format and Results

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Sitting here on a cold snowy night in the northeast with nothing better to do, I perused numerous fan messaging sites to gain some perspective and reactions to the outcome of The Chase for the Sprint Cup last night. To say it best, the reaction is mixed. Most would agree Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing were the most deserving team of the four left to win the Sprint Cup trophy. What was interesting and sometimes comical was the format and allegations.

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Let’s face it Harvick and the number No. 4 team were fast. Bad fast all year long on all track configurations. They fought errors and bad breaks otherwise they could have had a double digit win total. No one was disputing he or Joey Logano belonged in the final four in The Chase for the Sprint Cup. The biggest focus was on Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman. In a new format where winning was not only emphasized, but almost mandatory, two drivers with one win between them were racing for the title. On the outside looking in were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski. All who won during the 26 race regular season and in Chase races. People feel that surely should count for the final four and that all of those were more deserving than Newman and Hamlin. Many are calling for a return to the original points system that rewards a champion based on the 36 race schedule. Some are saying only race winners should be in the Chase. To me, Hamlin and Newman raced the format perfectly. Stayed out of trouble, didn’t shine, but didn’t stink the joint out either. In this format they deserved to be there.

As far as the race last night, a significant proportion of the fan base feel that the race was manipulated to have the Chase drivers at the front for the final laps. Many were citing Gordon’s mysterious pit stop as evidence, people are not happy. A lot of the folks were saying that he would never have done that alone. Alan Gustafson did not call him in, he came in alone. With a dominant car the decision was looked upon with skepticism. They also were bringing up the Clint Bowyer/Michael Waltrip Racing race manipulation from last year, as well as the MWR rocket fuel additive at the Daytona 500 in 2007. They were stating that Bowyer purposely wrecked at Texas to bring out the yellow to re-bunch the field for the final restart. The incident between Keselowski and Gordon then ensued causing the No. 24 to miss out on Homestead.

I know there are conspiracy theorists everywhere, but I would have to believe that there would not have been any manipulation on NASCAR’s part or others either to affect the Chase for the Sprint Cup. I may be naive, but the whole sport’s integrity would be thrown out of the window if it was ever determined or the mainstream media started digging for dirt. It would never want to share the “Sports Entertainment” label with WWE. The ratings and sponsorship dollars would shrivel up to nothing.

Thanks for a great year in NASCAR. Whether your driver won or not, I believe the sport is on the right trajectory. The stars were the stars again, the new format for the Chase for the Sprint Cup proved attention getting and chatter where previously there was little. Can Daytona start next week?

Michael Eliadis is a contributor at beyondtheflag.com and on the FanSided network. Please be sure to follow us on Twitter: @Beyond_The_Flag and ensure you “Like” us on Facebook

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