what changes to the Chase are going to be made and exactly how its all going to work.

I'm hoping my boss won't be around so I can keep checking all the sites to see when things get announced!

On NASCAR.com at 1pm they are going to announce the changes in a news conference.

I'll be interested in seeing what changes.

Ok theese are the changes this year.

- 5 bonus points for each win

Chase

- eliminating 400 point cut off
- 12 drivers in chase
- only top 10 at the end of the season will be on stage at the banquet
- 5,000 point reset....top 12 drivers will all start with 5,000 points
- 10 point bonus for every win in regular season for chase drivers...this would have put Kasey first going into the chase
- No $1 million bonus for 13th

I think that's about it. That's my understanding of the changes. I'm sure the changes will be posting by media later in more detail.

Only thing I'm not sure about yet is the whole setting the chase standings by wins. I'm all for giving points for wins, but setting the chase standings by wins, I don't know.

I'm still confused lol

I think those changes sound good to me.

Yeah tell me about it. This is going to take some time to figure out.

As I understand it is that 12 drivers will be in the chase. After Richmond the top 12 drivers will have their points reset to 5,000. Now they wouldn't reset the point by 5 point increments like before, but they will reward the top 12 drivers with 10 point for each win that they got in the regular season. This would have put Kasey 1st, instead of 10th. because he had the most wins out of all the chasers before the chase started.

The more I think abpout it the more I understand it. It's starting to make better sense at why they set the chase standings like this.

Also, anyone who wins a race throught the year will get 5 bonus points.

Well that was fast. Here's the NASCAR.com article about the changes.

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/...nges/index.html

So basically you have to be consitant to get into the top 12 and then you are rewarded for your wins by getting the chase standings formated from most wins to least wins. So it covers both being consitant and winning. And really the standings are not that far apart in points if you look at what last year would look like with this years point format. Only 50 points separtate 1st and 12th, so it's still close. It'll be interesting. I'm liking it better the more I think about it.

I kind of think it's silly that somebody could qualify for the Chase by being 12th in points after Richmond, and then by virtue of their wins, be first after the "seeding." That's literally the only beef I have with it. Other than that, I'm actually okay with the changes.

I do think it should be a better balance between wins and consistency, and this provides that. But I didn't think Kasey should have won the Cup last season because he either won or he sucked (or I guess he was average). HE didn't have a balance between winning and being consistent, whereas Jimmie and Matt CLEARLY had a much better balance between the two. On the other hand, though, perhaps some of the disappointing finishes during the Chase won't hurt as badly with the bonus points.

But, hey. If Kasey wins the most races again, I'll be singing a pretty tune after Richmond. :hehe

:nod

You pretty much said everything I did when James told me about the changes this afternoon.

Hmm. Interesting changes they decided to make. I am glad to see that they put more emphasis on wins for the coming season. I can't really decide if I like all of the changes or not yet. It will be interesting to see what kind of role that plays once we go into the Chase this year.

I am liking how they add more point for wins but I am still not sure about 12 chasers instead of 10...

i think im ok with all except the change to 12...........wish they would have stayed at 10.........
jmo

I'm the same way. I like all the changes they made but I'm not crazy about the whole top 12 instead of 10. I thought 10 was more nail biting.

gotta get use to all that.

All i really expected was some bonus points for winning but the extra 10pt bonus for every win in the reg season is a surprise to me.

By switching to 12 drivers it could have been thought that would include that 1 or 2 popular drivers that are being left out but now with more rides coming in 12 still isn't gonna be enough.

I am gonna keep forgetting its 12 and focusing solely on the top 10 by Richmond lol

I agree with you Carrie... yes wins should get rewarded better but... those 10 points should go during the regular season if at all... they should of kept the 5 point diffrence after the chase is set... at least that keeps people where they should be...

My question is... so only the top 10 get to go to NYC... what happens to 11th and 12th they get a nice lil' certificate that says "This Certificate Acknowledges ___________ for his _____ finish and great participation in the Chase for the nextel Cup" seriously... eh

I'm not sure what I think yet....I want to see how it works out first. I'll get back to you in September. :)

I'm not a fan of this "bonus point seeding thing" for wins.......

just make the win worth something, thus we are now saying that certain wins are worth more points cause winning before the Chase and making the Chase is worth more than a win in the Chase......

ughhh, did they have to make it so dang complicated. 12, I liked 10 better but I can handle 12.

IMO 5 points for a win is not enough a win should be worth an even 200 points. Do these changes make winning worth more? Yup up until Richmond, but even if you win 3 races and don't make the Top 12 than basically winning is still worthless.

I'm trying hard to not totally judge and see how this works out, but I'm just not liking it right off the bat. I think Brian France keeps jumping through rings of fire that are going to seriously burn him in the long run, the casual fan isn't even going to understand this system let alone probably care. Which is going to hurt them in the long run if they expect to turn them into a diehard fan.

We'll see how it works out, it could work out okay. But I'm just not sure yet.

well
kasey needs to go win 7 races this season now...
lol

Kasey just needs to win a whole bunch and life will be okay no matter what the standings look like :)

yep, and i think someone else mentioned before that this all just boils down to consistency in the chase still.
You have plenty of more wins than anyone else in the chase you can just putz around cause you have thisHUGE lead.

I am all for the awarding of a win, but all season long!

but I guess there will always be a factor for consistency, other than consistently winning. :)