NASCAR Possibly Doomed For Another Anti-Climactic Chase Finish

Johnson's Big Lead Could Mean Anti-Climactic Chase Finish

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson holds a 183-point lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and for the "fourth time in the last five years," the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS) on November 16 is "likely to lack the one thing the Chase was designed to create: drama," according to SI's Lars Anderson, who suggests three changes to next year's system. NASCAR should "create a separate points system for the Chase drivers," as well as "wipe the points slate clean at the start of the Chase." NASCAR also should "add new tracks to the Chase" (SI, 11/3 issue). CBSSPORTS.com's Pete Pistone wrote the "lack of drama is certainly not what NASCAR intended when it created the Chase format five years ago." Roush Fenway Racing co-Owner Jack Roush recently suggested that each driver in the Chase "should receive one free pass during the 10 race playoff run and throw out the worst finish of the schedule." But NASCAR PR Manager Kerry Tharp said, "I don't see that happening. To say you're not going to count a performance would be akin to one of the teams in the World Series having a poor performance and throwing that out" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/29).

SOUTH BEACH: In Miami, Sarah Rothschild reports the Ford 400 is "still not sold out," and HMS President Curtis Gray attributed the "'unusual' circumstances facing the speedway to two factors." Gray: "Some folks look at the points and want a real close championship. For some people, the economy is a big factor" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/31).