New Chase Format could open door to NASCAR ...?

NASCAR is making a huge change to it's Chase Format. The 16 teams with a Cup win will make The Chase. Then an elimination of four teams every thre races during The Chase, leaving four teams to fight for the Championship.
This means a team could win at a road course or plate race like RGM could make The Chase without running the entire series.

NASCAR is attempting to create a NCAA Basketball feel for the sport with an opportunity for a Cinderella team to make a run. With NCAA football going to a "playoff" style and tons of research this could be a huge attention draw for NASCAR.

This could open the door for many racers that don't want to run the full season long schedule.

Robby could focus on just the two road course and/or plate races and a win would almost guarantee a Chase birth. Would think the cost of running two road course races and testing would be very affordable for RGM.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 18, 2014 at 7:50pm

on a different CUP note,qualifying also changes for 2014.I was at a function yesterday afternoon and spoke with Kevin Hamlin (Kasey Kahne's spotter ,ex-Ganassi test driver) Kev, said the new qualifying procedure may basically turn into heat races.I'm think'n GP qualifying,aka Road Race qualifying.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by pdxracefan on January 18, 2014 at 8:25pm

What's the new procedure?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on January 18, 2014 at 11:24pm

RG may be done with NASCAR...but from reading the new changes...A win gets you in! When was the last time 16 drivers won in a season? Position wil be seeded to drivers running full time first...meaning if 8 drivers had 1 win those higher in points running full time would get seeded higher. A win still gets you in.
I also believe as long as RGM is headquartered in Charlotte (aka Nascar Hub) he will hear and see all the changes and opportunities.
I'm a huge Robby Gordon fan! Yes he's won in the SST (his series) but I still believe he has unfinished business in the Cup series. I know many have said done with Nascar and that's fine if that's what Robby decides to do but with the changes...No more Top 35 rule, new heat qualifying and Win and In Chase format...question would be Why Wouldn't He?
I mean you can't tell me RG can't get the funds to lease a quality ride for two races. I get it's too much to run the full Cup schedule, it's not worth it to Start and Park...but two road course races! Those interviews are still on the front page...go listen RG himself talks about IF the situation was right for a return. Well, it doesn't get much better than this for a team like RGM. I'm sure a sponsor like Mapei, Jim Beam, Harrah's, Traxxas or SPEED could see the value of fronting the funds for two races with the opportunity to bank the exposure of being a Chase team.
I see it as an opportunity to get max exposure with a lot less investment than the past.
There's still a ton of Robby Gordon Nascar fans too! I follow the dirt stuff because I'm a fan of Robby, but NASCAR and Robby is still what I would rather see.
I get not running the entire schedule. I get not wanting to build a fleet of Cup cars...but this...THIS makes much better sense. Still like the SST. Still like Baja. Still like Dakar. Just still like Nascar too!
Just my hopes and opinion