Agreed. At a high level, it appears to be a weighting problem of the right mix of reasonable regular season elements to comprise the right postseason participants. This is a problem for many sports - that, as you know, I've complained about - where the "answer" is too often to take the easy path and let everyone into the playoffs to ensure that nobody is left out.
One unique element with NASCAR is the apparent absence of any honor among drivers. There are no drivers that would let LeBron have an easy dunk running down the paint just because he is LeBron and has a legacy. In NASCAR, somebody would cut his legs out from under him and make him head to the locker room. Just like Jeff Gordon in 2015. Oh, and no hanging out courtside and kibitzing with competitors and Fallon in Paris for the paparazzi either.
Re-configuring the Chase is fine, but you still need to be able to finish races to win under any system - regardless of the mix. I'll freely admit that I'm no NASCAR' expert, but the ability of non-competitive team drivers to block or crash (I'm sorry - "bump") a leading driver close to the Cup and later pretend that it was accidental or unfortunate has always puzzled me as a matter of sport.
Gambling on NASCAR has got to be in the Top 10 of most risky financial decisions a person can make.
Agreed. At a high level, it appears to be a weighting problem of the right mix of reasonable regular season elements to comprise the right postseason participants. This is a problem for many sports - that, as you know, I've complained about - where the "answer" is too often to take the easy path and let everyone into the playoffs to ensure that nobody is left out.
One unique element with NASCAR is the apparent absence of any honor among drivers. There are no drivers that would let LeBron have an easy dunk running down the paint just because he is LeBron and has a legacy. In NASCAR, somebody would cut his legs out from under him and make him head to the locker room. Just like Jeff Gordon in 2015. Oh, and no hanging out courtside and kibitzing with competitors and Fallon in Paris for the paparazzi either.
Re-configuring the Chase is fine, but you still need to be able to finish races to win under any system - regardless of the mix. I'll freely admit that I'm no NASCAR' expert, but the ability of non-competitive team drivers to block or crash (I'm sorry - "bump") a leading driver close to the Cup and later pretend that it was accidental or unfortunate has always puzzled me as a matter of sport.
Gambling on NASCAR has got to be in the Top 10 of most risky financial decisions a person can make.