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It's turning into a chase fiasco. It was kind of odd when they said, "Ok, only the first 6 manufacturer cars can enter." That would have been fine for me if they left it like that, though they shouldn't have changed it at all. Now, just because a few drivers weren't in it, they went ahead and ******** with it some more, which just goes to show, that if NASCAR really cared about making better competition, they wouldn't be giving so many breaks to past champions. For instance, now the field goes from 24, to 28 cars because each manufacturer gets one more entry, be it their 7th highest placed car from last season or a past champion. Guess who benefitted from that. Most notably Tony Stewart in a Chevy, and Bobby Labonte in a Ford. This new format isn't even off the ground, and they're already screwing with the changes they'd made months ago.

Another perfect example would have to be the chase. Sure, Matt Kenseth ran away with the final Winston cup championship, so after that the chase was implemented. So when 2005 rolled around, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed the show. And in 2006, Tony Stewart missed out. Hence the format was modified to allow an extra two teams into the chase field to make it twelve competators in the chase.

This is no different. If NASCAR really wants to make competition better, they need to take a step back and just let the drivers race. Modifying as many formats as they can to allow guys like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to race for a championship or a shootout win no matter what is just unfair to the guys who are trying to make a name for themselves. It puts those smaller named guys at a huge disadvantage too when for 26 or 36 races, they run their races smart and beat guys like Gordon, Earnhardt, and Stewart, only to see them get in on a rule change a year later. And with the way the economy is going, it just makes the situation worse for guys like GEM, and Penske (not that I care much for those teams anyway).

Just as a comparison, look at the NHL for example. Their playoff format has been the same for about as long as I can remember. 8 teams from each conference get in, and one team wins at the end of the season in the exact same way as the year before. That is competition. NASCAR is practically handing out invitations to the chase when a few of their big names are put at a disadvantage.

I seriously think NASCAR needs to rethink the past champions exemptions if this is how they're going to go about using it.

I understand wanting to distinguish themselves because coors took the pole award, but they could have made it a lot better. I think they should have a three segment race. Have it like the all star open but where everyone races in it, all the teams, have it be 15 laps long and whoever finishes in the top 10 goes to the final two segments. along with the top 10 finishers have everyone who won the shootout in the past automatically lock into the final showdown. Maybe have a fan favorite driver along with it. Then have a twenty lap shootout, followed by a ten lap shootout.

1. I agree, some of those races can get REALLY boring in the middle.
2. No, because what tracks would be cut? The short tracks! You think they would cut out one of the new, expensive cookie-cutter tracks?
3. Undecided.
4. No, this one worries me. What if Dale Jr. or Jimmie Johnson or one of the other superstar drivers gets a pit-road speeding penalty and misses the cut? "Mark Martin was dominating! But he sped on pit road, got sent to the end of the longest line, and missed the cut!" gonk scream *changes channel*
5. Yes, as long as I get some too.

well i like my idea even better! xp

the way the bud shoot out is now totally sucks i think it should consist of all the past winners and pole winners not manufacturers top 4 or whatever it is.