Nascar will make some changes next year and possibly exempt the previuos years chanpion. I do beleive that they are working on giving the winner's of any of the races a larger point total for the win. Especially during the Chase races...Possibly expanding the point total to make the Chase greater (say 500)..

 

here's to hoping Tony can win 3 in a row!

 

That's a good idea
France was in a Accident today I heard

 

Top 5 for Phoenix.

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Matt Kenseth

3. Denny Hamlin

4. Kyle Bush

5. Mark Martin

 

Although the 500 point idea was a consideration rarely has the top ten driver been within 400 points. I think that the difference will be in the points allowed for a win thru the season.. Tony Stewart is a good example. How can a driver that has won 5 races not be in the hunt without a whole lot of DNF's. I guessing:
Top 5:

Jr.
Tony
Kevin

If anything desparation within the ranks might just seal the fate of several drivers in the chase this weekend..

 

I like the idea of giving an Automatic berth to the defending Champ but if he is say outside of the Top 15, he cannot win the title, he can do no better than 2nd place even if he wins the last 10 races. It would make too much of a mockery of the sport if the defending champ was say, 26th in points and won the Title again. Other than that, I do not think the points structure should be changed at all. This is only the 3rd year and the points are still to likely be close yet again at Homestead.

Oh BTW, my man Gordon is on the pole and has been blowing everyone away all weekend in practice. Car is on a rail.

 

Leader>>> Matt Kenseth
Member>>> Jeff Gordon
Member>>> Kyle Busch
Member>>> Kevin Harvick

Tie breaker: 115.020

 

Well unless something drastic happens in these final 50 laps at Phoenix, turn out the lights, it's over. Johnson is going to go to Homestead and stroke. He has about a 60 point lead so Kenseth, Harvick and Junior would need to win, lead the most laps and hope Johnson does not lead a lap and finishes 30th or worse. At that all Johnson has to do is just run half throttle next week, AKA Stroke, and simply finish the race 15th or better. Only run when he needs it.

 

Im hoping junior can take it.. its going to be a good race thats for sure ..

 

Well, Junior could get 2nd place in the Chase, he's only 27 points back of Kenseth. If Junior were to win the race and get all the bonus points, a total of 190 points, he would need Kenseth to not lead a lap and finish no higher than 4th. If he did lead a lap, then no high than 5th and if Kenseth got all the bonus points, no higher than 6th place.

For Junior to win the title, he needs the above and Johnson to not lead a lap and finish no higher than 22nd. If that happens, Junior wins the title by 3 points, the smallest ever margin of victory in the Title race. If Johnson leads a lap, he can finish no higher than 23rd place (Junior wins by 1 point) and if he were to lead the most laps, he cannot finish any higher than 27th place (Junior wins by 3 points.)