If I were a betting man, something is going to happen to Stewart before Homestead in two weeks, like at Phoenix next week, which will
shake up the points going into the final race. Homestead is NASCAR's biggest weekend, and they need a show to pull it off - and they can do that if Stewart, Johnson and Edwards show up 10 points apart.
And one final thought on the chase, and if NASCAR is listening, think about this: In the chase next year, take the top 10 like usual, but add a 'fans choice' done through ballots like they do for the All Star race at Charlotte. It would make any driver not in the top 10 a wildcard, and the fans choice would get in - making the chase that much better. Also,
one more change if I can play NASCAR god for a minute. I'd make, just in the chase races, a change in the points. Drivers in the chase would get a point for every lap led during the final ten races. That means that even if a driver was 200 points out in the final race, but was dominant, he could still win, giving NASCAR what it wants - a sure fire show.
With just Phoenix and Homestead left, it's Stewart's championship to lose, and if he's going to lose it, it probably will be at Phoenix rather than Homestead.
Nextel Cup points after nine chase races - 1. -- Tony Stewart Leader, 2. Jimmie Johnson -38, 3. +1 Carl Edwards -77, 4. -1 Greg Biffle -122, 5. +1 Mark Martin -123, 6. +1 Matt Kenseth -135, 7. -2 Ryan Newman -174, 8. +1 Kurt Busch -281, 9. -1 Rusty Wallace -315, 10. -- Jeremy Mayfield -407
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| Mark Martin cuts through the shadows on his way to a 2nd place finish. (Photo: Autostock) |
And one final thought on the chase, and if NASCAR is listening, think about this: In the chase next year, take the top 10 like usual, but add a 'fans choice' done through ballots like they do for the All Star race at Charlotte. It would make any driver not in the top 10 a wildcard, and the fans choice would get in - making the chase that much better. Also,
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| A trio of Fords races through turn 4 led by Kurt Busch. Busch finished 10th, Elliott Sadler 9th and Dale Jarrett 12th. (Photo: Autostock) |
With just Phoenix and Homestead left, it's Stewart's championship to lose, and if he's going to lose it, it probably will be at Phoenix rather than Homestead.
Nextel Cup points after nine chase races - 1. -- Tony Stewart Leader, 2. Jimmie Johnson -38, 3. +1 Carl Edwards -77, 4. -1 Greg Biffle -122, 5. +1 Mark Martin -123, 6. +1 Matt Kenseth -135, 7. -2 Ryan Newman -174, 8. +1 Kurt Busch -281, 9. -1 Rusty Wallace -315, 10. -- Jeremy Mayfield -407