Well, it has been rumored for a while and now it’s official, NASCAR fans just can’t escape the Chase for the (Enter Series Name Here) as NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France has announced a Chase like format for both the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series’ starting this season among a plethora of other changes.
In his usual state-of-the-sport address to kick off the 34th annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, France introduced the new format, with both formats consisting of seven races, setting up a four-driver battle at the Series finale at Homestead-Miami and both consisting of two elimination rounds. With this change, none of the 16 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers from 2015 will be allowed to compete at the finale of the other two series this season.
The Chase for the Xfinity Series title will consist of 12 drivers, beginning with the Sept 24 race at Kentucky Speedway. The field will be rounded down to eight drivers after the first round, made up of the races at Kentucky, Dover, and Charlotte. After this round, there will be a second round made up of the following three races at Kansas, Texas and Phoenix before the final battle at Homestead-Miami with the remaining four drivers.
On to the Camping World Truck Series side, where the Chase for the Truck title will begin at eight drivers and be rounded down to six after races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega before the four are determined after the next three race series at Martinsville, Texas and Phoenix before the finale at Homestead-Miami.
While many fans will not be in favor of this change, France believes it can do nothing but help as he said while making the announcement “I think it’s important the (young drivers) understand how difficult it’s going to be when they get to the Sprint Cup level,”
One other announcement made today and probably the most stupid decision in the history of motorsports, the beginning of the “caution clock” implemented in the Camping World Trucks Series. This is designed to dumb down the races so that those who have shorter attention spans can keep watching. It boils down to this:
At the beginning of the race as well as on restarts a 20-minute clock will be set, once the clock runs out, a caution flag will be thrown and then reset for another 20 minutes period.
Once the race is down to the final 20 laps, the clock is turned off with the exception of Eldora where there is no clock as well as Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and Pocono where it will be turned off with 10 laps left.
Folks we have seen it all, NASCAR at least as far as the CWTS is concerned has gone straight into the toilet. I don’t know who is telling Brian France that these are possibly good ideas but it sure as hell is not the fans, at least not this fan and I’m sure a majority of others agree. Please feel free to vote in the poll in this article on whether or not you think the caution clock is a good idea. At least, we still have our local tracks where we can see some real racing and not whatever this is.
Beyond The Grandstand 