In reading many of the comments and having been a racing/NASCAR fan for over 50 years, I must be a totally clueless idiot.
Why? Because I actually like The Chase and what it is doing for the sport on many levels.
I think it's great to finally see drivers not giving a rats ass about stroking it for a good points day and actually racing for the WIN! I think the competition this year has been great. Best in several years. Could it be even better, sure, and the folks at NASCAR are continuing to try to make it better by what looks to be a step away from the aero dependent cars on the intermediate tracks starting in 2015.
Without the Chase format, NO ONE would even be talking about the upcoming Richmond race this Saturday night. It would just be another race. But this Saturday night is "MUST SEE" racing. First of all, you've got a bunch of guys who could give a crap about points and are there to "WIN" another race. How refreshing is THAT? Then, you have the guys who need to win at all costs to even get in the Chase. Then you have the guys on the bubble who "could" still qualify for the Chase on points. Do they risk throwing all caution to the wind and going for the win or try to still have a good points race and hope to get in that way. There are a ton of interesting scenarios to watch unfold Saturday night. I can't wait. Without the Chase.... it's just another race. Ho hum. Talk about boring.
Drama is what it's all about. For the fans. For TV. For advertising dollars. You name it.
Furthermore, "change" is good. What's the old saying?.... "If you're not changing, you're not growing". Every successful company does it. If they don't, they will be left in the dust.
It's a whole different day and age now than it was "back in the day". Not only is it a different economic model, but the sport must cultivate new fans. What worked "back in the day" no longer works today. As Ian pointed out, today's youth are fickle and and have a short attention span. The "old" way just doesn't attract them. Why to do you think NASCAR is making sure that all of their tracks are updating to be wifi capable? Because if the "new" generation of fans can't use their smart phones/tablets and not be able to text, check emails go online.... they will not come back again. Why do you think NASCAR is sinking millions into the "Daytona Rising" upgrade of the speedway? To bring it up to state-of-the-art for fan amenities so it will be comparable with every top notch sporting facility in the world and to make the fan experience second to none. To keep them coming back.
All of these people who constantly grouse and whine about NASCAR are living in the past. Those days are gone and they're never coming back. The whole business model has changed and I commend NASCAR for realizing it and changing with the times. Because if they didn't, they would very quickly become irrelevant.
If you want to see how well things are going using your "old" formula of no change and just holding a race with really nothing on the line.... take a look at how the short tracks are doing around America today compared to how they were doing 30 years ago. Not so well and NASCAR has had virtually no influence over how those short track promoters run their facilities. Without the Chase, Sprint Cup would be on a path of becoming all but dead today. No one would much care about the consequences from race-to-race.
Now, we have drama. Now we have a premium on "WINNING"! Now we go into the final race of the year with 4 guys having a shot at the title. THAT'S going to be must-see!!! Contrived or not. Who cares? Not like the old days when many times the championship had been long decided several races before the final race of the year.
I could go on and on addressing all of your so-called flaws with NASCAR and The Chase, Reubin, but this post is long enough right now.
FAQ
