The NEw Chase Format: Breakdown

Well…the rumors were true.

The “NEW” Chase is set.

Twitter, Facebook, and forums alike exploded with disgust as soon as Brian France started announcing the new Chase format and frankly, fans aren’t happy. Drivers seem to be for it for the most part as well as teams and crew chiefs.

Have you made your decision on the new Chase? Here is how it breaks down. (From NASCAR.com)

VICTORY: A victory in the first 26 races likely will guarantee a driver a position in the 10-race Chase with the final race being Richmond.

MORE DRIVERS: The Chase field will expand to include 16 drivers instead of 12…or 13 if you are Jeff Gordon! It will be known as the Chase Grid. A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next Chase round

ELIMINATION: Every three races, the championship field will decrease.

• 16 to start in the Chase Grid known as the Challenger Round (Chicago, New Hampshire, Dover)
• 12 after Chase race No. 3 known as the Contender Round (Kansas, Charlotte, Talladega)
• eight after Chase race No. 6 known as the Eliminator Round (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix)
• four after Chase race No. 9 known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship (Homestead)

HOMESTEAD: Four drivers will enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with a chance for the Cup, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

ELIGIBILITY: The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the Chase Grid. The 16th Chase position will go to the points leader after race No. 26, if he/she does not have victory. In the event that there are 16 or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who can earn a Chase Grid spot would be the points leader after 26 races.

If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races, the remaining Chase Grid positions will go to those winless drivers highest in points. If there are 16 or more different winners in the first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins, followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points.

BONUS POINTS: Prior to the start of the Chase, all Chase Grid drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races.

There you have it. The new Chase format. What are your thoughts? Comment below and let us know!

Original Post: Click Here