Jayski's® Silly Season Site - The Chase for the Nextel Cup News

NASCAR Points System
Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship
2007 Rules/News

The Ten 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup Races

September 16 - New Hampshire International Speedway, 1.058 miles

September 23 - Dover International Speedway, 1 mile

September 30 - Kansas Speedway, 1.5 miles

October 7 - Talladega Superspeedway, 2.66 miles

October 13 - Lowe's Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles

October 21 - Martinsville Speedway, .526 mile

October 28 - Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.54 miles

November 4 - Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles

November 11 - Phoenix International Raceway, 1 mile

November 18 - Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1.5 miles

for full schedule see my 2007 Nextel Cup Schedule Page

Go to the 2008 Chase News and Links page

Go to the Original Points Change in 2004 announcement/News page

2007 CHASE STATS by JAYSKI

after each race...
10) Richmond
11) Darlington
12) Charotte
13) Dover
14) Pocono
15) Michigan
16) Sonoma
17) New Hampshire
18) Daytona
19) Chicago
20) Indianapolis
21) Pocono
22) Watkins Glen
23) Michigan
24) Bristol
25) California
26) Richmond
DURING the CHASE
27) New Hampshire
28) Dover
29) Kansas
30) Talladega
31) Charlotte
32) Martinsville
33) Atlanta
34) Texas
35) Phoenix
36) Homestead

2006/2007

What It Takes To Win The Chase: In 2006, Jimmie Johnson took over the Chase lead with two races left in the season en route to winning his first career Cup title. This year, he takes a larger points lead to Phoenix and only five other drivers are still in contention for the Nextel Cup championship. Jeff Gordon is the closest competitor to Johnson but will be challenged in his attempt to retake the lead considering how well Johnson has raced lately. Gordon could win at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami (the final two races) and still not win the title. Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart are mathematically still alive. However, they need a monumental collapse by Johnson in addition to gaining the maximum points in the last two events to have a chance to win the Chase. The following scenarios show how each driver could finish ahead of Johnson in the final two races (each scenario holds true regardless of Johnson leading a lap in each race unless otherwise specified):
Chase Chances
1) Jimmie Johnson Chase leader
2) Jeff Gordon (-30 points) If he finishes nine places better than Johnson in each of the next two races, or if he wins out and leads the most laps in each event
3) Clint Bowyer (-181) If he wins out and leads the most laps in each event, and needs for Johnson to average a 22nd-place finish or worse
4) Kyle Busch (-339) If he wins out and leads the most laps in each event, and needs for Johnson to not start one race and finish 40th or worse in the other race
5) Carl Edwards (-357) If he wins out and leads the most laps in each event, and needs for Johnson to not start the final two races
6) Tony Stewart (-373) If he wins out and leads the most laps in each event, and needs for Johnson to not start the final two races
Drivers 7-12 Eliminated from championship contention.(ESPN.com's Terry Blount)(11-6-2007)
AND: Johnson would clinch if he gains 131 points on Gordon at Phoenix, assuming Johnson starts the last race. If Gordon blows an engine and finishes last at Phoenix, Johnson would have to finish fourth or better (if he led a lap) to win the championship. If Johnson wins the race and leads the most laps, he would clinch if Gordon finishes 35th or worse and doesn't lead a lap.(ESPN.com's Terry Blount)(11-7-2007)
NASCAR may give "regular-season" bonus in the future: NASCAR is considering creating a reward for the winner of the "regular season" in response to the huge points lead Jeff Gordon built before the Chase for the championship. NASCAR chairman Brian France said earlier this week he is willing to explore the idea of rewarding the driver who is leading the points at the end of the 26th race of the season. Gordon built a lead of more than 300 points, but lost all of it when the field was reset this week for the Chase for the championship. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Friday that the sanctioning body will discuss the issue during the offseason. Among the ideas being kicked around are awarding additional bonus points to be used in the seeding, more prize money or a trophy different from the Nextel Cup.(Associated Press/Yahoo Sports)(9-15-2007)
How Dale Jr. can make the Chase: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. still has a shot to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. A longshot, granted. “I want [our fans and sponsors] to know that no matter what, me and the team are giving everything we got,” Earnhardt said. “We're not going to lose focus or give up or pack it in.” Earnhardt is 13th in series points coming into Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 128 behind 12th-place #29-Kevin Harvick. The top eight drivers in the current points have clinched Chase spots. Drivers in ninth and 10th place must only start on Saturday night to clinch. The lowest Earnhardt can finish at Richmond is fifth to still have a chance at making the Chase. The two caveats to that scenario: He must also lead the most laps and Harvick has to finish 43rd. He can also finish fourth and lead one lap, or finish third and lead no laps and still qualify – as long as Harvick finishes last. On the other end of the spectrum, if Earnhardt wins Saturday night and leads the most laps, he’ll clinch a spot if Harvick finishes 33rd or worse OR if Kurt Busch finishes 37th or worse. If Earnhardt wins but doesn’t lead the most laps, he’ll need a Harvick finish of 34th or lower OR a Busch finish of 39th or lower.(NASCAR PR)(9-5-2007)
OWNERS: The Owners championship takes the same format as the drivers championship. Owners have their own Chase, so if a team uses more then one driver and is in the Top 12 after 26 races, that TEAM [not driver] would run for the Chase for the owners championship. The drivers would NOT. This means a driver in the Chase would have a team that is NOT in the chase.
Chase Races to remain the same in 2008: NASCAR President Mike Helton said the 10 races for next year's Chase should be the same as this year. "It's still a work in progress, but so far at least we don't see anything different in the Chase part of the season," Helton said Friday of next year's schedule. We're not quite through yet, but I don't suspect any changes to come up in that part of the schedule." The 10 Chase races this season are New Hampshire, Dover, Kansas, Talladega, Charlotte, Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead.(Roanoke Times)(7-7-2007)
After 7 races in 2004-2006 worst spot a future chaser was? with #9-Kasey Kahne, 33rd in drivers championships points after 7 races, the question has been, after 7 races in the three previous Chase's, what was the worst spot a future Chaser [in that season] was in after that 7th race? In 2006 after the 7th race, #31-Jeff Burton was 16th in drivers points, in 2005 it was #17-Matt Kenseth who was 21st after 7 races and in the first year of the Chase, 2004, #6-Mark Martin was 16th. The three drivers who won the last three Nextel Cup Championships were no deeper then 11th, that being #20-Tony Stewart, in 2006 #48-Jimmie Johnson was 1st and in 2004, #97-[now in the #2]-Kurt Busch was 1st after 7 races.(4-15-2007)
After 6 races in 2004-2006 worst spot a future chaser was? with #9-Kasey Kahne, 34th in drivers championships points after 6 races, the question has been, after 6 races in the three previous Chase's, what was the worst spot a future Chaser [in that season] was in after that 6th race? In 2006 after the 6th race, #11-Denny Hamlin was 23rd in drivers points, in 2005 it was #17-Matt Kenseth who was 21st after 6 races and in the first year of the Chase, 2004, #6-Mark Martin was 15th. The three drivers who won the last three Nextel Cup Championships were no deeper then 5th, that being #20-Tony Stewart, in 2006 #48-Jimmie Johnson was 1st and in 2004, #97-now #2]-Kurt Busch was 2nd after 6 races.(4-15-2007)
NASCAR Announces Adjustments to ‘Chase’ Format and Points System:
Race victories will become more important than ever in 2007 as a result of adjustments to the points system and the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup format announced today by NASCAR. The adjustments are designed to establish more balance between winning and consistency, but there is a new emphasis on the former. “The adjustments taken today put a greater emphasis on winning races,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Winning is what this sport is all about. Nobody likes to see drivers content to finish in the top 10. We want our sport – especially during the Chase – to be more about winning.”

Chase Adjustments:

The Chase – consisting of the season’s last 10 races – will further reflect the importance of racing to win, via a variety of adjustments.

> During the format’s first three years, the top 10 drivers in points after the 26th race of the season (at Richmond International Raceway) qualified for the Chase; in addition, any other driver outside the top 10 but within 400 points of the standings’ leader was also eligible.
Starting this season, the 400-point cut-off is eliminated.

Also, after Race 26, the top 12 drivers in the points will qualify for the Chase.

> All 12 drivers will have their point totals re-set to 5,000; each will then receive a 10-point bonus for each race victory they had during the first 26 races.

> The Chase drivers will be “seeded” to start the Chase based on the number of wins amassed during the regular season.
Points adjustment: In line with the Chase adjustments, wins throughout the season will be more valuable.

> Race winners throughout the 36-race season will now receive 185 points, a five-point increase. Counting the five-point bonuses available for leading at least one lap and leading the most laps, a race winner now can earn a maximum of 195 points, creating a possible maximum of 25 points between first- and second-place finishers.

The 2006 season of Kasey Kahne provides a dramatic illustration of the adjusted Chase format’s implications. Kahne qualified for last year’s Chase, but started it in 10th place – despite having won a series-high five races. Under the new format, Kahne would begin the Chase in first place, with 5,050 points. Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, seventh and eighth at the outset of last year’s Chase, would instead start in 11th and 12th, each with 5,000, since they had no race victories entering the Chase. Also, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle, who failed to make the Chase last year – they were 11th and 12th and beyond the 400-point cut-off – would qualify under the adjusted format. Stewart would be fifth with 5,020 points, Biffle 10th with 5,010.

“The Chase has been successful because it has done what it was designed to do – give more drivers an opportunity to win the championship,” France said. “It has reenergized our sport. And now, a good thing is about to get better. In 2004 when we unveiled the Chase, we said we would keep a close eye on it, and make adjustments if needed. We have done that, and we feel like the sport – and the sport’s fans – will benefit.”
2006 Pre-Chase Standings
1. Matt Kenseth, 5,050
2. Jimmie Johnson, 5,045
3. Kevin Harvick, 5,040
4. Kyle Busch, 5,035
5. Denny Hamlin, 5,030
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 5,025
7. Mark Martin, 5,020
8. Jeff Burton, 5,015
9. Jeff Gordon, 5,010
10. Kasey Kahne, 5,005
x-Tony Stewart, -------
x-Greg Biffle, -------
2006 Pre-Chase Standings Under New Format
Rank, Driver, Reset Pts, Wins, Adjusted Pts*(spots advanced/lost)
1. #9-Kasey Kahne, 5,000, 5, 5,050 (+9)
2. #17-Matt Kenseth, 5,000, 4, 5,040 (-1)
3. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 5,000, 4, 5,040 (-1)
4. #29-Kevin Harvick, 5,000, 3, 5,030 (-1)
5. #20-Tony Stewart, 5,000, 2, 5,020 (+6)
6. #24-Jeff Gordon, 5,000, 2, 5,020 (+3)
7. #11-Denny Hamlin, 5,000, 2, 5,020 (-7)
8. #5-Kyle Busch, 5,000, 1, 5,010 (-4)
9. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 5,000, 1, 5,010 (-3)
10. #16-Greg Biffle, 5,000, 1, 5,010 (+2)
11. #6-Mark Martin, 5,000, 0, 5,000 (-4)
12. #31-Jeff Burton, 5,000, 0, 5,000 (-4)
* – Reflects 10-point bonus for each race win. (NASCAR PR)(1-22-2007)
And if the NEW system was used in 2006, how would the final results look?
1. #48-Jimmie Johnson 6475 [finished 1st in 2006]
2. #20-Tony Stewart 6459 [11th]
3. #17-Matt Kenseth 6419 [2nd]
4. #29-Kevin Harvick 6397 [4th]
5. #11-Denny Hamlin 6397 [3d]
6. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6313 [5th]
7. #24-Jeff Gordon 6266 [6th]
8. #9-Kasey Kahne 6233 [8th]
9. #31-Jeff Burton 6218 [7th]
10. #6-Mark Martin 6148 [9th]
11. #16-Greg Biffle 6051 [13th]
12. #5-Kyle Busch 6002 [10th]

How does the Nextel Cup award points to drivers and owners?
Each driver who competes in a Cup race is awarded points in the following manner: starting at 175 points, dropping 5 points from spots 1-6, 4 points from 7-11 and 3 points from 12th and lower. 43rd is worth 34 points. Bonus points are giving to any driver who leads a lap and to the driver that leads the most laps is awarded an additional 5 bonus points (in a case of a tie, both drivers get the extra points). Owners are awarded points in the same manner, PLUS they get points for attempting a race, where as drivers do not. All teams who pass inspection and fail to make the race get owner points that descend in the order of quickest non-qualifier to the slowest. Those teams earn the position/points immediately below the last car in the field. So if a team misses the race but was the fastest non qualifier the owners would get 31 points and an other drivers would follow the 3 point drop scale, down to a minimum of 1 point. See chart

HOW Nextel CUP POINTS ARE AWARDED

NOTE: Driver Leads a Lap (under Green or Yellow Flag) gets 5 Bonus Points
Driver who leads the most laps gets 5 Bonus Points
as of 2004: Winning driver gets 180 points instead of 175
as of 2007: Winning driver gets 185 points instead of 180

Finishing Spot	Points
1	185
2	170
3	165
4	160
5	155
6	150
7	146
8	142
9	138
10	134
11	130
12	127
13	124
14	121
15	118
16	115
17	112
18	109
19	106
20	103
21	100
22	97
23	94
24	91
25	88
26	85
27	82
28	79
29	76
30	73
31	70
32	67
33	64
34	61
35	58
36	55
37	52
38	49
39	46
40	43
41	40
42	37
43	34
44	31
45	28
46	25
47	22
48	19
49	16
50	13
51	10
52	7
53	4
54	1

The driver who STARTs the race gets the points and the finishing position credit.
Spots 44 thru infinety are used to award Owners Points
to those teams who do not make a race. After 54, teams get 1 point
...drivers get NO points for an attempt

more 2006/2007 News/Rumors

Michigan could be pushed into the Chase? MORE: A senior NASCAR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told SPEEDTV.com Sunday morning that if the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway is totally rained out this week, it could become the final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. There is a 100% chance of rain today and an 80% chance of rain tomorrow in Michigan, which means the race could be run on Tuesday. But rain is a possibility then, too. “If we absolutely can’t race in Michigan this week, then we're looking at making it the final race in the Chase,” the NASCAR official told SPEEDTV.com. “If we do that, we’d move everything back to where New Hampshire would be the cutoff race to make the Chase.” Given that such a scenario is something NASCAR views as an absolute last resort, every effort will be made to get the race in this week in Michigan, despite the weather challenges. The current schedule calls for NASCAR’s regular season to end in Richmond Sept. 8 and the 10-race, season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup to begin Sept. 16. in New Hampshire. The Chase is scheduled to end Nov. 18 in Homestead, Fla.(SPEEDtv.com)(8-19-2007)
MORE: If it is rained out again on Monday, NASCAR officials said the race will be run Tuesday. From there on, it gets dicey, as there is a Craftsman Truck Series race scheduled for Wednesday at Bristol Motor Speedway, while the Busch Series teams will practice there on Thursday. NASCAR announced Sunday that if the Michigan race can’t be completed this week, that it will be run on Thanksgiving weekend and become the final race of the season and the 10th and final race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. That would make the Sept. 16 race at New Hampshire International Speedway the 26th and final race of NASCAR’s regular season, instead of the first race for the Chase. “The Chase field is set based on completion of the first 26 events,” said NASCAR’s Ramsey Poston. “The Chase is comprised of the final 10 races of the season, so if this race were not to be able to be completed this week, it will be moved to that week of Thanksgiving and would then become the final race of the season,” Poston said. That would mean that the Sept. 8 race at Loudon, N.H., now scheduled to be the first race in the Chase, would become the last race of NASCAR’s regular season and the first Chase race would be a week later in Dover, Del. It would also result in the traditional season-ending Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway being the ninth race of the Chase, instead of the season finale. NASCAR officials have vowed to do everything possible to get the race in this week.(Ford Racing), what is the weather usually like at MIS for weekend of November 24/25? ave high temp is 43°F, ave low 28°F.(8-20-2007)
NASCAR to expand Chase field and more points for wins in 2007 UPDATE: The Nextel Cup 2007 season will feature more points for victories and more drivers in the Chase for the Cup, NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said this afternoon. How many points and how many drivers are being determined, Hunter said during a visit to USA TODAY's newsroom in McLean, Va. "We're still running the models," Hunter said, adding that an official announcement will be made during NASCAR's media tour Jan. 22-26 in Charlotte.NASCAR added the Chase for the Cup in 2004 with the top 10 drivers in the points standings and anyone within 400 points of the leader, competing in the final 10 races for the Cup championship.(USA Today)(1-4-2007)
UPDATE: Staying within 400 points of the lead no longer will be a factor to get in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. A source close to NASCAR said the governing body is finalizing a plan that will allow the top 12 in points in the 10-race playoff with no provision for how many points a driver is from the lead. The top 10 and anybody within 400 points after 26 races qualified for the playoff during the first three years of the Chase. But because the 400-point margin hasn't been a factor -- seven or fewer drivers were within that range from 2004-06 -- NASCAR decided to set a hard number. Barring a last-minute change, that number will be 12. NASCAR also will award 10 more points to the winner after running several models that showed after 10 the system created more runaway scenarios. An official announcement will come later this month at the media tour in Charlotte. NASCAR officials considered putting in a provision that would allow a driver with the most wins outside the Chase in the playoff, but decided against it. They also decided against expanding the 400-point margin to another figure such as 500.(ESPN.com)(1-8-2007)
No Big Changes Expects in Points System/Chase: NASCAR has all but ruled out major changes to the point system or Chase for the Championship format, three of the sanctioning body's top officials said Thursday. President Mike Helton, vice president for competition Robin Pemberton and Nextel Cup series director John Darby said if there are any changes, they'll be minor. Helton said there is no need "to fix what isn't broken," and Darby said the most likely adjustment will be a few more points for wins. An announcement, he said, probably would come in January. Darby said NASCAR executives favor keeping the Chase field at 10 drivers, but he wouldn't rule out changing the format to make it slightly easier for someone below 10th place to qualify. Currently, any driver below 10th place who is within 400 points of the leader would qualify, and that hasn't happened yet. Pemberton said NASCAR won't drastically alter the existing formula, partly because of the risk of having someone who wins a few times during the Chase running away with it.(Tampa Tribune)(12-1-2006)
Chase Changes Coming? UPDATE: A highly placed source within NASCAR said that changes to the format for the 2007 running of the Chase for the Nextel Cup will not be announced until January, probably during the annual Lowe’s Motor Speedway Media Tour. Although the official did not disclose specific changes, there is widespread sentiment among teams and drivers that race winners ought to receive a higher bonus than the 10-point margin a winner now receives compared to second-place finishers. Another, though considerably more controversial, option would be to score the drivers in The Chase separately than the other 33 cars in each race. Thus, the highest-finishing Chaser would get 10 points, while the driver who finishes last would receive just 1 point.(Ford Racing)(11-4-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR will not adopt a separate points system for the drivers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup next year, according to Chairman Brian France, who was on hand Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway for the running of the Dickies 500. What is likely to change, France said, is the 400-point threshold for drivers outside The Chase being eligible for it. And he said NASCAR is on its timetable to re-evaluate The Chase after the completion of its third running. “Listen, if you look at history in sports, playoff formats are adjusted quite a bit over many years,” France said. Teams are added, conferences are changed around, teams are moved in and out. It all affects who makes the playoffs. Baseball went to another round of playoffs. Lots of changes happen. It should not be looked at as unexpected [in NASCAR]. Right now, we have a good [points] battle. That’s why we never said we were going to do a big change. We just said we were going to look after three years—it was enough time to look at how three years had unfolded and see if there were any adjustments we could make to the format.”(Ford Racing)(11-6-2006)
UPDATE 2: "We're going to do something to make the win more important," France said. "That's something very important. There will be some other adjustments that we consider and they'll be small, by definition, modest changes. It won't be a revelation.'' France stated a winner might benefit in ways other than more points."It may not just be that,'' France said. "There's lots of ways to make a win more important.'' What about a separate points system for the title contenders? Some drivers have suggested NASCAR adapt that. "I don't think you're going to see races within a race and all that other stuff,'' France said. Another area of debate is the Chase field. The top 10 drivers and anyone within 400 points makes the Chase. So, what about expanding the field? "No, it's not on the table,'' France said. "We like the 10. Ten races, 10 drivers.''(Roanoke Times)(11-6-2006)
NASCAR considering giving more points to race winners: When Kasey Kahne came perilously close to not making the Chase For The Nextel Cup despite a series-high five victories, the debate raged during the Richmond race weekend on how a win should affect determining the Chase field. The question: Whether the driver with the most wins in a season might qualify as a wild card or whether a win should be worth more points in general. NASCAR is considering adding more points for a win. The sanctioning body increased the points margin between first and second place from five to 10 points in 2004 when it instituted the Chase format. "We're looking at what effect it would make to award more points," NASCAR Managing Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston said Sept. 9. "But at this point, nothing is done. It is important for us to get through this season so we have three full seasons to look back on." Two drivers - Jeff Burton and Mark Martin - made the Chase without a win, while Tony Stewart (two wins) and Greg Biffle (one win) are 11th and 12th, respectively, in points and out of Chase contention. Burton noted that the point system does not reward a team for winning as much as it penalizes a team for performing poorly. "That is something nobody really puts any emphasis on, the penalty for doing poorly," Burton said. "If you have a terrible, terrible race, that is a huge penalty that you pay."(in part from SceneDaily.com)(9-14-2006)
12 Drivers in the Chase Next Year?: UPDATE: On Speed Channel's, NASCAR Live, Bob Dillner reported that NASCAR officials are considering increasing the number of drivers making the chase next year from 10 to 12. He said NASCAR is also looking at a new points system for chase participants.(9-9-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR is giving serious consideration to widening the Chase for the championship field and awarding more points to race winners beginning next season. Changes to the final 10 races - which won't happen in 2007, anyway - are unlikely. The sanctioning body is looking at ways to award a "wild card" but hasn't finalized anything. "We're trying to see if there is a way to earn a spot in the Chase without harming the integrity of it," spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "Everyone made a big deal of Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. not making it last year, but it really only legitimized it. The Chase for the championship field currently consists of the top 10 drivers in the standings, plus anyone within 400 points of the leader. In the third year of the Chase, that 400-point mark has yet to come into play, and widening it is under consideration. But NASCAR does not want to ensure a spot in the Chase field to a driver who wins a single race. NASCAR also is leaning toward awarding more points for victories - something the sanctioning body has been under pressure to do, particularly this season.(Associated Press)(9-10-2006)
Ties to be included in The Chase: NASCAR announced Saturday that its championship format would be changed to include the top 10 drivers and ties, beginning this year. That means that anyone tied for 10th after the Richmond race next week would be graduated to the 10-race championship chase. The chase system, instituted in 2004, has largely been accepted by the competitors, although some observers consider it artificial and contrived. Under the format, the 10 drivers leading in points after Richmond are re-ranked at five-point increments, then turned loose to run for the season title under traditional points. No one else is eligible. "We are updating the rule book," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "If there are two drivers tied for 10th, there'll be 11 drivers in the chase. If there are three drivers -- any ties for 10th -- they're 10th." The reason, Poston said, is that "we didn't think tie-breakers worked in this. The way the rule book was written, you could be tied for 10th place but out of the top 10 because of traditional tiebreaking methods." There was some suggestion from NASCAR last year that such a device would be appended to the playoff, but the matter never came up. This year, Poston said, the update is official. NASCAR chairman Brian France suggested in the summer that small changes could be made to the chase format. Poston said Saturday that NASCAR is still evaluating other changes and that an announcement of other amendments would not be made until next year.(Speed Channel)(9-3-2006)
Changes coming in 2007 for the Chase: NASCAR chairman Brian France promised slight changes to the sport's championship format, hoping to add more drama to the 10-race title hunt. "What I have always said about the Chase was we needed a few years under our belt to see how it evolves, how it changes in strategy, see how the actual formula we have really works," France said Thursday. "Now in our third year ... it's the ideal time for us make adjustments." France did not specify what areas will be changed in an offseason facelift that will take effect in 2007. The Chase for the Nextel Cup was devised by France when he took over as chairman in 2004. The format was designed to spice up a stale championship race in which winners were running away with the title and routinely clinching before the season finale. France wanted more excitement and a dramatic playoff system that could compete with the NFL for television ratings. The result was the Chase, which uses the first 26 races of the season as a qualifier to set up the title run. The top 10 drivers in the standings automatically make it in, and any drivers within 400 points of the leader are also eligible. They then compete over the final 10 events to decide the championship.
"We'll be looking at nothing new -- everything that we'll be looking at has been brought up by various people the last couple of years," France said. "Just various things that we think will build what we're hoping for, which are big moments and a bigger stage for the drivers. That's what the Chase has always been about. It's about showcasing their skills."(ESPN.com/AP)(6-29-2006)

CLASSIC POINTS FINISHES 2004-2006

Unofficial "Classic" Driver Points Standings after Homestead [36 of 36 races]:
(Traditional Points...the old way, not the Chase)
1) #24-Jeff Gordon 5455
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 5102, -353
3) #20-Tony Stewart 4749
4) #17-Matt Kenseth 4718
5) #11-Denny Hamlin 4623
6) #5-Kyle Busch 4585
7) #99-Carl Edwards 4574
8) #07-Clint Bowyer 4556
9) #31-Jeff Burton 4549
10) #2-Kurt Busch 4371
11) #29-Kevin Harvick 4344
12) #1-Martin Truex Jr. 4314
13) #12-Ryan Newman 4046
14) #16-Greg Biffle 3991
15) #25-Casey Mears 3949
16) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3929
(11-18-2007)
"Classic" 2006 Points Standings...the old way, not the Chase after Homestead:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson 5158 CHASE CHAMP
2) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5154, -4
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4838, -320
4) #20-Tony Stewart, 4727, -431
5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4725, -433
6) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 4641, -517
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4567, -591
8) #31-Jeff Burton, 4535, -623
9) #9-Kasey Kahne, 4497, -661
10) #6-Mark Martin, 4484, -674
11) #99-Carl Edwards, 4428, -730
12) #5-Kyle Busch, 4416, -742
13) #16-Greg Biffle, 4075, -1083
(11-19-2006)
"Classic" Points Standings - Top 15...the old way, not the Chase after Homestead, race 36 of 36:
1) #20-Tony Stewart, 5199 CHASE CHAMP
2) #16-Greg Biffle, 4984, -215
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4771, -428
4) #6-Mark Martin, 4676, -523
5) #99-Carl Edwards, 4597, -602
6) #2-Rusty Wallace, 4512, -687
7) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4451, -748
8) #12-Ryan Newman, 4409, -790
9) #19-Jeremy Mayfield, 4281, -918
10) #97-Kurt Busch, 4248, -951
11) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4174, -1025
12) #42-Jamie McMurray, 4130, -1069
13) #38-Elliott Sadler, 4084, -1115
14) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4072, -1127
15) #88-Dale Jarrett, 3960, -1239
(11-20-2005)
"Classic" 2004 Points Standings...the old way, not the Chase after Homestead:
1) #24-Jeff Gordon 5042
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 4995 -47
3) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4869 -173
4) #97-Kurt Busch 4795 -247 CHASE CHAMP
5) #20-Tony Stewart 4701 -341
6) #6-Mark Martin 4597 -445
7) #42-Jamie McMurray 4597 -445
8) #17-Matt Kenseth 4376 -666
9) #12-Ryan Newman 4361 -681
10) #38-Elliott Sadler 4315 -727
11) #18-Bobby Labonte 4277 -765
12) #9-Kasey Kahne* 4274 -768
13) #29-Kevin Harvick 4228 -814
14) #88-Dale Jarrett 4214 -828
(11-21-2004)

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