Happy Hour: A Chase in all 3 NASCAR series?
Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to [email protected] or @NickBromberg. We’ll post them here and have a good time.
Joey Logano’s poor Texas finish dropped him to fourth in the old Chase standings.
1. Carl Edwards 2,301
2. Jeff Gordon 2,295
3. Martin Truex Jr. 2,287
4. Joey Logano 2,278
5. Kyle Busch 2,277
6. Brad Keselowski 2,268
7. Kevin Harvick 2,262
8. Kurt Busch 2,260
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,258
10. Denny Hamlin 2,257
11. Ryan Newman 2,253
12. Jamie McMurray 2,234
13. Jimmie Johnson 2,230
14. Paul Menard 2,206
15. Matt Kenseth 2,197
16. Clint Bowyer 2,153
And speaking of the Chase, the Chase could be coming to the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.
@NickBromberg WHat is going on with them talking about adding Chase to lower series?
— Michael Harvey (@MrLester88) November 11, 2015
@NickBromberg The horrid notion of a chase in Xfinity or trucks.
— #UdderNation (@Jim_Udder) November 11, 2015
Motorsport.com reported over the weekend that NASCAR was considering a Chase format for the Truck Series. The format could be like this:
One scenario that’s been discussed would feature eight contenders in a seven-race elimination where two drivers are knocked out after each three-race segment with the four teams battling for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
A Chase format for the Xfinity Series was presented in the NASCAR fan council survey recently. Here’s what it said below. Remember, there have been no official announcements about a Chase format in either series.
It’s clear that NASCAR is investing heavily in this elimination Chase format if it’s considering it for the lower two series. And it’s a sign that the format may not be going anywhere for a while. After all the tweaks NASCAR has made to the Chase in its existence, this has a chance of being the longest-lasting format. Of course, that’s like saying you’re the longest-living gnat, but hey, gotta shoot for something.
If there was an Xfinity Series Chase in 2015, the 12 drivers would be Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Regan Smith, Chase Elliott, Ryan Reed, Ty Dillon, Elliott Sadler, Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez, Brian Scott, Brendan Gaughan, Ryan Sieg and Jeremy Clements. While Cup drivers have sniped 23 of the 31 race wins so far, it’s not unreasonable to expect that if there were no Cup drivers in the field no one outside of the mentioned drivers would win a race.
If there was a Truck Series Chase, the eight drivers would be Matt Crafton, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Timothy Peters, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Johnny Sauter and Cameron Hayley. John Wes Townley would not have made the Chase because his win came in the period where the Chase would have been happening and he’s not high enough in points to otherwise make it in.
It’s also apparent NASCAR wants to guarantee both lower series titles come down to Homestead. Last year, Chase Elliott had the Xfinity Series title wrapped up at Phoenix. But would an elimination style format bring any more interest or eyeballs to the series? That’s the big question.
TV ratings haven’t exactly skyrocketed with the new Chase format in the Cup Series. And if non-NASCAR fans haven’t been taken by the Cup Series and the Chase, why would the NASCAR fans who aren’t already watching the Xfinity and Truck Series start suddenly watching?
NASCAR has to figure that out. Selling your entire sport to short sample-size randomness when the majority of NASCAR history has been predicated on sustained success may be considered a disaster by many people. The jury is still out on the current Chase format, especially if NASCAR starts to govern as less of a benevolent dictator. In our eyes, it’s far too soon to be implementing it in other series.
Okay @NickBromberg , you’ve been in charge of getting NASCAR a new title sponsor for the Cup Series, how’s the last few weeks been for you?
— Brian Cullather (@Briancullather) November 11, 2015
Fun!
NASCAR has a limited scope of suitors for such a high-dollar sponsorship. And as such, if any potential sponsors were turned off by what happened at Martinsville, it’s imperative that NASCAR make sure any fears were assuaged.
There’s been no public process on the sponsor front. And our guess is there won’t be an announcement until early 2016.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
