Just for Fun! Under the old points format would the 48 have won four in a row?

Not to take anything away from the 48 team but! Would they have won four in a row under the old points format? I don't know how to figure this out!
But someone out there can! And if he did "NOT". Should there be a asterisk * by his name in the record book. And if he did "NOT" get four in a row under old format. Then we could all say the new format favored the 48 and it gave him a advantage to winning four in a row. (Your thoughts)

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Permalink Reply by Scott B on November 23, 2009 at 8:22pm

Oh, and bottom line is. THE BEST TEAM/DRIVER WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Period.

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Permalink Reply by Karen on November 23, 2009 at 8:55pm

I don't like the bonus points for leading a lap or for leading the most laps. I would like to see it done by average finish. In case of a tie, most laps led would be the tiebreaker. Even doing it this way, JJ would be the clear winner. I looked at the last 10 races and (barring the likely errors) came up with the following average finish:

JJ - 6.8; JGordon - 8.2, KurtBusch - 9.8; MMartin - 9.9

While I am not too keen on the Chase -- I think they should at least get rid of the bonus point for those races - and maybe even start the top 12 in the 32-43 spots for a race or two, to make it interesting.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on November 23, 2009 at 9:34pm

And dont forget we can throw reverse logic at this statement...would Cale have won 3 in a row if there was a Chase format?
I have no idea of the answer...but the same arguments can then be made....strategy woul dbe different etc...

All I know is no one win races by 5 laps over 2nd lace anymore....in all my research into the past the good ol days seem really effing boring...

I hate JJ but you have to respect the incredible achievement they have done...

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Permalink Reply by Trooper Blue on November 23, 2009 at 10:18pm

So many of the people who are complaining that racing isn't competitive anymore really don't know anything about the history of NASCAR. Races historically were very uncompetitive with only a handful of cars having a shot to win at each race.

I have a pretty extensive VHS collection of races going back to the last race of 1987 at Atlanta. I watched that race a couple weeks ago just for the fun of it. Bill Elliott won the race, Big E was 2nd, followed by Ricky Rudd and Bobby Allison. That was it for the cars on the lead lap. Four cars. The margin of victory was almost 13 seconds. Over half the field had dropped out by the time the race ended. When is the last time we saw a race like that?

The sport completely changed in the mid 90's. To compare anything from before that point to anything now is almost impossible. But anyone who can win 4 in a row deserves respect for their achievement, regardless of how one feels about them, their team, or their car owner.

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Permalink Reply by Scott B on November 24, 2009 at 12:54am

This is EXACTLY the point I was trying to make.

The racing is actually extremely competitive today compared to NASCAR's past.

However, there will NEVER be a day when all 43 cars in a field realistically have a shot at winning a race.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on November 24, 2009 at 2:13am

He won, outright, with the rules that were in place. Of course it shouldn't haven an asterisk.

With that, the Chase still sucks. JJ, does not.

Its impossible to retroactively apply another points system (ie, applying the old points system to the results for this season), since there are different strategies applied.

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on November 24, 2009 at 3:07am

Jimmie Johnson is now the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. You can whine about it however you like, but it doesn't change this reality. Johnson won the game with the rules NASCAR gave him, which are identical to the rules all the 43+ drivers had. Not one of them can touch the guy for 4 straight years.

The best. ever.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on November 24, 2009 at 8:49am

Agree...but this is similar to the greatest QB of all time. Joe Montana is on the short list because he won so many Super Bowl Bowls...but Dan Marino was a MUCH better skilled/naturally talented QB than Montana. (Jerry RIce was Montana's Chad Knaus...lol)

So is JJ the best ever because he won 4 straight...okay sure...no argument here and history will most likely show him as much.....is he really the best and most talented driver to get behind a wheel in Nascar....nope. ( I mean he's no slouch...but he's not the best/most talented).

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Permalink Reply by Nena Patrick on November 24, 2009 at 8:07am

Its hard to tell who would have won because you race the chase different than you would under the old system. Tony Stewart would have had the lead with 10 to go, he would have raced trying to protect his lead, not try and regain it like he had to under the chase. If it was under the old system I do believe JJ would have won championships but not 4 in a row. I have never liked the chase. I think it takes away what teams accomplish in the first 26 races. The truck series championship was locked up before the end of the year and yet their rating keep rising and the cup series title wasn’t settled till the final race with 3 drivers with a chance at the title and their rating keep going down??? hummm????? Oh and IU dont care if Johnson wins 10 championships in a row he will NEVER be as great as Dale Earnhardt.