NASCAR could not have "asked for a more ideal group of drivers to be in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup," but a "closer look at the eight remaining title hopefuls reveals a roster bereft of some of the sport's biggest names," according to Jared Turner of FOXSPORTS.com. In fact, fans "could argue that the drivers no longer in championship contention are as noteworthy as those who are." Among the "hardest-to-miss drivers who are absent" are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne. However, five of the eight remaining drivers "have multiple wins" this season. Also, there are "six different organizations and all three of the sport's manufacturers" still represented. Ryan Newman, one of the two drivers to advance to the Eliminator Round "without a win, believes the absence of some of the big-name drivers is hard for fans to ignore but, fair, nevertheless" (FOXSPORTS.com, 10/23). In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison noted Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski thinks it is "still too early to tell if NASCAR got it right with its new Chase format." Keselowski: "What validates any format, to me personally at least, is if we look back and we have better ratings, better ticket sales and better numbers in general, more fan popularity. That’s what’s behind any change we make in the sport. So if we see increases in those metrics then I’d say ‘Yes, we’ve been successful.’” Davison wrote the "only noticeable problem with the format is that, yes, some stars are going to have their championship dreams end earlier than expected" and this year's final eight drivers are "somewhat uninspiring." But Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage "believes the format is living up to its potential." Gossage: “Some people are a little upset because their driver didn’t advance or whatever. Under the old format their driver wouldn’t have advanced. They wouldn’t be in the hunt for the championship so the way this works it’s creating drama at every event in the Chase whether it’s the first, second or third race in that round" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/23).
