11/05/24
November 21, 2004
Kurt Busch: is the 2004 Nextel Cup champion, in the closest points race ever. What are your thoughts on the new championship format? Did it make the season more exciting?
posted by mr_crash_davis to other at 04:57 PM - 7 comments
The new format worked well. When the points race comes down to the final laps of the last race with 3 drivers still with a chance to win, all driving their asses off, NASCAR, NBC, and the fans had to love it. One caveat though. I'd would like to see them eliminate sone of the cookie cutter tracks that are involved in the last 10 reaces. Less Texas and more Martinsville, so to speak. I think the playoff system is here to stay and that you'll see the new format in the Craftsman Truck amd Busch series next year.
posted by bawanaal at 08:59 PM on November 21, 2004
"I'd would like to see them eliminate sone of the cookie cutter tracks that are involved in the last 10 reaces. Less Texas and more Martinsville, so to speak." I agree heartily. Another 1 1/2 mile low-banked track and I might just start watching the NFL on Sundays. ... All right, it's not that drastic, but it's close.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 09:03 PM on November 21, 2004
Sorry m_c_d, but the old school tracks are a dying breed. At the rate they're going now, there will be no races left in North Carolina. I know, I exagerate that point, but I do know a lot of old timers that hate what stock car racing has become. Their main point of contention is the fact that the cars aren't even close to stock anymore. What happened to the days when a couple of dudes got together and put in a new carb or sawed something off to make the cars lighter? That shit's gone forever. Have you ever tried peaches that have soaked in moonshine for a coupla days? Seems apt anyway.
posted by NoMich at 10:28 PM on November 21, 2004
this new points system has ruined the nostalgic, historical viewpoint of nascar. nascar can not expect the fans to look at this years champion in the same light as champions of the past, because it was won in an intirely different way. had the 24 won, it would be fine, because he would have won the championship under the old system, as well. i can't look at kenseth, and busch, and say that they are equal nascar champs. kenseth won it last year the way earnhardt, petty, waltrip, and gordon did. i have trouble accepting the fact that kurt busch is now in the same league as his teammate, matt kenseth. nothing against busch. he went out there and grabbed this 10 race chase by the balls and came home ahead at the end. he took advantage, and congrats to him. i'm a jr. fan and he would have lost anyway you look at it, new or old system. but gordon got robbed of his fifth championship by the money hungry brian france. that ruins the historical factor of nascar.
posted by nate8cave at 08:45 AM on November 22, 2004
It's not a good idea to directly compare the new system's results to what the old results would have been. People would have been in different positions and raced differently. You definitely can't say Gordon was robbed with any real confidence.
posted by Smackfu at 10:48 AM on November 22, 2004
Yes you can. You honestly belive that Jeff wouldn't have done everything he could to win under either championship? The whole reason this "Chase for the Cup" nonsense was started was to compete with the NFL, MLB etc.. What the idiots who run NASCAR fail to realise is the fact in those leagues, once the playoff's begin, the other teams pack up and go home. So the only fair way to emulate a true playoff would be to boot the 33 drivers out of the race. I don't think it's remotely fair to have a playoff type format, and still let everyone else stay involved. Am I saying they SHOULD boot the other 33? Of course not. They should have left the championship as it was. I have no problem with a championship being won on consistency. (And I'm an absolute racing NUT.) As far as I'm concerned, that's the point. Knowing when to push over when to hold back and take second. For example, in F1 in 2003, statistically, Raikkonen was the better driver, averaging a 2.8th placed finish over M.Schumacher's 3.1st.) Busch as champion is ridiculous. There was nothing WRONG with the original points system. Changing to this new format has just flushed all the history, and future championships can't, in any way, be measured against the past.
posted by Drood at 02:13 PM on November 22, 2004
Although the outcome was less than I desired, I have to say that I like this new format. It *did* make the last 10 races more exciting...the top 10 guys were driving balls-out, not simply racing for points, and the rest of the field was driving tough without being stupid. I know I wouldn't want to be the guy that knocked someone out of contention because I made a bonehead move on the track...