Take 5: Five Thoughts Leaving Atlanta

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Two races, two winners.

With the new chase format that was introduced in 2014 there is some cause for concern if more than 16 drivers win a race before the start of the chase. For the most part a win will guarantee you a spot in the chase but if 17 or 18 drivers win in the first 26 races, only 16 of them are going to the chase.

NASCAR seemed destined to have this happen last season but ultimately as the season wore on drivers who had already won early in the season won the majority of the races before the start of the chase.

While talking about there being more than 16 winners in 2015 might seem premature only two races in, it’s an interesting thing to think about. Early on drivers like Jeff Gordon, Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart have struggled a bit. If any of those drivers remained in a rut for the next month or two but then finally won a race, the previous struggles wouldn’t matter since they had a win. However, if there are more than 16 winners a driver with a win and low in the points could miss the cut. In 2014 there was a chance that could have happened to guys like Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola and AJ Allmendinger had there been more than 16 winners.

I’m not saying it will happen but if it does it will be interesting for sure.