It’s been no secret the passionate base of NASCAR fans were absolutely over and had it with The Playoffs to determine a champion. They wanted the format tossed out and a return to rewarding consistency instead of the much despised “win and you’re in” system of recent years.
They got their wish on Monday when NASCAR announced they were returning to The Chase format used in the past. No more can a driver simply win one race and become championship eligible. Instead, the top-16 point earning drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series after 26 races will compete for the crowning glory.
With that said, NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell said one goal of the change was to bring back the disenchanted fan to the stands and overall engagement. And, it will also change how the media covers each race and the overall season
Contagious Enthusiasm
The path in reaching the new format was a 1.5-year process. There was input from current and past drivers, long-time media personnel and the fan base. Meetings were held several times during that time period enroute to reaching the new format.
“I think the best part about it is when the industry, particularly the drivers, are enthused about a format and talking about how every lap and race matters now, that’s important,” he told Heavy Sports. “I think the fans are going to embrace that, as well. I also think they are going to latch on to some of their favorite drivers.
“We talk a lot about the past and we show a lot of ads about our former heroes that got us to where we are today. The old format talked about a guy who may have finished 18th, but advanced because he won a race. That’s not going to be the case anymore.”
Put the Focus on Winners
Like any sport, NASCAR racing is about winning. However, unlike other sports, the old format made any driver who won a race eligible for the Playoffs. Other sports reward winners who accumulate the best records by winning game through consistency
For their effort, they become playoff eligible. NASCAR drivers who had a good season consistency wise were possibly denied because they didn’t have a victory to guarantee them into the playoffs.
“We want to talk about winners, we want to talk about top fives and good finishes,” O’Donnell continued. “I think this format will be put the focus on those guys. It’s what we need, we need to build some heroes.
“In turn, it will put butts in the seats and get people watching.”
Media Coverage Focus Changing
With the former format, the focus was on the winning driver and team as expected. When the victory occurred, the talk shifted from the immediate race conclusion and how a driver went to the Winner’s Circle right to talking about the playoffs.
Now, with the “win and in” aspect tossed into the dumpster, each race has a bigger focus toward The Chase and how one can vie for a championship.
“Here we have the Daytona 500, our biggest race of the year,” O’Donnell observed. “A driver wins the race, and instead of focusing on the fact he just won The Great American Race, we immediately start talking about the playoffs.
“I mean, what were we doing here?”
NASCAR Announces Major Update Amid Bid to Bring Back Fans