Points Racing - Then and Now
In 2009 Juan Montoya was unashamed and freely admitted that he was points racing to make sure that he made the Chase. Montoya was rewarded with a Chase spot.
Back in 2003 Matt Kenseth points raced all season long and was rewarded with a blowout Championship victory. Kenseth only had one win and eleven top fives. By contrast, that same season Ryan Newman had eights wins and seventeen top fives but ended up sixth in the final standings.
Now, at least, drivers have to race these last ten events. Even a tenth place average finish won’t do it without a few wins.
The Current State of Things
As the 2009 Chase for the Cup begins the top twelve drivers are within 40 points of each other with ten races to go. Without the Chase second place Jeff Gordon would have been 179 behind Stewart and twelfth place Brian Vickers would have been 603 points behind.
The Chase provides better racing, more excitement and a better experience for drivers, teams, tracks, sponsors and fans. I couldn’t wait for the excitement of Richmond and now I can’t wait for these final ten races. Do you really want to go back to the way things were?
