Well, when NASCAR did the new points system for the season and the chase their statement was that "the fans" wanted to give more points for wins then consistency....Guess they got what they wanted, huh?? I understand the logic behind the chase system, when a car would have things clinched with XX races to go interest and attendance would drop drastically as we've seen over the years....Heck, they were probably down to only the real race fans left in the seats!!!!!!

So this year's "Race to the Chase", the chase itself, and of course the final race had a huge audience which is good for sponsor's and everybody's pocket book. ( ie Smoke's $5.6 mil check from Sprint plus the regular purse and contingencies. ) I'm not defending the system, I think it sucks!!! As a racer I know that consistency is the key to success in racing, but I suppose it's boring for the casual observer. Smoke's organization took full advantage of the new system and got the big trophy and the big $$$$$.

I suppose it's like most everything these days, the money is the only thing that counts.... Costs a ton of money to put a team together and cover expenses. I guess the alternative being the original points system and trash the chase format wouldn't generate the revenue that NASCAR and the teams need and we'd be back to smaller teams, smaller paydays, fewer fans in the stands, less TV revenue, and back to the old fashioned thing of letting racers be racers....

Which is better??? Who knows. I doubt Smoke and the gang will say it publicly, but I'd bet they have an occasional snicker about their mediocre season turning into a Cup Championship!!! They used the system to beat the system!!!! ---and me being a Smoke fan way back to his days in a USAC midget driving for Bob East all I can say is way to go Smoke!!!!!