No Jeff, no Junior, no problem: there's no need to jerk around the Chase format just to pacify the fans of some of the missing stars

Lee Spencer

Let's take a quick NASCAR quiz. Pick the statement that correctly predicts the result of holding a Chase without Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.:

A. TV ratings will dip.

B. Fan interest will wane, and the races will lack excitement.

C. NASCAR will dramatically change the format in the future.

D. None of the above.

The answer is "D." For anyone who watched Sunday's race at New Hampshire, which Ryan Newman won, it's obvious that if you miss a lap, you miss a lot. There were tempers flaring, helmets flying and fingers waving. It looked more like a night at Bristol than a day on a flat mile in New England.

Of course, this won't be the case for all of the races in the Chase. But if New Hampshire is any indication of what lies ahead, fans certainly won't be disappointed.

For Gordon and Earnhardt, the pressure is off. These stars have nothing to lose and are far from conceding races to the Chasers. Neither is eligible to win the title, but it won't be easy for the drivers in the top 10 to take wins from Gordon and Earnhardt.

"My fans will watch regardless because of who is in the Chase now," Earnhardt says. "There are plenty of personalities in this thing whether I'm in it or Jeff's in it or anyone else. My fans are race fans. They want to know who's going to win."

Gordon could very easily spray Pepsi on October 23 in victory lane at Martinsville. And Earnhardt could enjoy a Budweiser shower October 2 at Talladega.

The bottom line is the top 10 outran the Nos. 24 and 8 during the regular season. The Chasers deserve the accolades they're receiving now.

"If two of the marquee drivers aren't in it, (the fans) are still there to watch the guys who are in it," says points leader Tony Stewart, who finished second Sunday. "If (fans will only watch Gordon and Earnhardt), the rest of us should all quit driving Nextel Cup and turn on the TV on Sunday and watch Jeff and Junior run each week. I don't think just two guys in this series are going to make it go or not go."

Stewart is right. Fans have the opportunity to get acquainted with new drivers such as Carl Edwards, rekindle old alliances with veterans such as Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace or find out what makes an intense driver such as Greg Biffle tick.

Finally, NASCAR needs to leave the Chase format alone. It's unnecessary to expand the Chase field to 12 cars or add every driver who wins a race during the regular season to the playoffs.

The NASCAR points system has always rewarded consistency and always should. Consistency got the top 10 drivers berths in the Chase, and consistency will determine the 2005 champion.

Too much of a good thing

With Roush Racing drivers filling five of the 10 Chase spots, sour grapes have sprouted around the garage. Some competitors say NASCAR should limit the number of teams that are allowed to make the Chase from one organization. Others believe the number of teams owned by one organization should be limited. Many competitors, however, feel Roush Racing deserves to reap the rewards for its hard work and talented stable of drivers.

One NASCAR insider says the situation will come under review at the end of the season but doesn't expect to see any change in policy in 2006.

speed read

Kurt Busch's win at New Hampshire in the first race of the Chase propelled him to the title in 2004. This year, his crash on the third lap--coupled with ongoing rumors of his departure to Penske Racing in 2006--squashed his hopes of repeating as champion.

INSIDE DISH

Appointing Jeff Gordon's former crew chief, Robble Loomis, to Jimmie Johnson's crew will benefit that team throughout the Chase, but the alliance may not last through the end of the season. "I will stay as long as the No. 48 team needs me," Loomis said after the team finished eighth Sunday. Loomis' greater contribution will occur after he moves to Petty Enterprises as executive vice president of race operations later this year. Loomis' organizational skills are exceptional. Petty hasn't had a true general manager overseeing the competition side since Robin Pemberton left at the end of 2002. * Richard Childress Racing continues to restructure its engine added engineer Nick Hayes, who has an impressive resume in Formula 1 racing. Tony Corrente, formerly of Joe Gibbs Racing, will oversee the daily research and development operation. "We've already seen the results," Richard Childress says. * Goodyear conducted a tire test last week at Homestead in preparation for the season finale on November 20. Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte and Jeff Green tested a variety of tires, but it's likely Goodyear will run the same compound the teams use at Texas. Burton says, "It's a challenge for Goodyear to find the perfect tire because the entry of the corners is a lot different from other tracks because of the multiple grooves and the variable banking." Goodyear says it will offer a product that has more grip. * Wood Brothers Racing continues to seek sponsorship for the No. 21 car for 2006. Driver Ricky Rudd has not publicly committed to driving the car beyond this year. * Teams are concerned because NASCAR hasn't given them all of the templates for what's generally referred to as the car of tomorrow (COT). Tests of the car are set for the Monday after the races at Talladega (October 2) and Atlanta (October 30). Organizations with in-house chassis programs need time to build a chassis that will complement the new body. NASCAR expects the COT to enter competition in 2007. * Major penalties from NASCAR were expected this week after the rumbles that occurred at New Hampshire. Several drivers were called to the hauler, and NASCAR parked Kasey Kahne for the rest of the race for intentionally running into Kyle Busch, who had punted Kahne a few laps earlier. Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of communications, says, "You're going to see some stiff penalties coming out of this because we're going to do whatever we need to do, whether that's park a guy for a week or nine weeks, to prevent retaliation on the race track, particularly under caution." Kahne hit Busch under caution, and Robby Gordon threw his helmet at Michael Waltrip's car under caution. * Brian Vickers' No. 25 team also will receive penalties. NASCAR confiscated his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after the car failed to meet template inspection last Friday at Loudon. A similar incident occurred in February at California, and one official said HMS was warned not to bring a car with similar dimensions back to the track.

The crew chief changes on Jeff Gordon's and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s teams immediately paid off-Gordon qualified second and Earnhardt third at New Hampshire. Gordon's new chief, Steve Letarte, says the biggest challenge for the team is 1.5- and 2-mile tracks. Gordon finished 14th at New Hampshire, a 1-mile track. Earnhardt's new crew chief, cousin Tony Eury Jr., wants to build comfortable cars for his driver. Earnhardt finished fifth--his first top five since his win July 10 at Chicago.

TSN's POWER POLL

1. Tony Stewart

2. Greg Biffie

[up arrow] 3. Ryan Newman

4. Rusty Wallace

5. Matt Kenseth Five consecutive top 10s for the 2003 champion. He was 19th in points 10 races ago.

6. Jimmie Johnsen

7. Mark Martin

8. Jeremy Mayfield

9. Carl Edwards

[down arrow] 10. Kurt Busch

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