SO, LET’S TALK CHASE

I don’t get the very personal social media attacks on others (and their mothers) for simply stating something as innocent as who their favorite driver is?  But since NASCAR introduced the new Chase Format, lord help you if you have an opinion on it. 

The Sprint Cup Championship Trophy
© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

So, let’s talk about NASCAR’s “New” Chase Format. 

NASCAR like any sport is always trying to come up with ways to make the sport more interesting to watch, less complicated to follow and sustain a larger audience until the final race of each season. 

All this while making a profit.

The old “Points Format” that was used to crown a Champion – well – it was simple, drivers and teams had to race/perform consistently over an entire season and they earned points during each race. 

Hamlin taking the track for final practice.
© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

Towards the end of each season when it became evident many weeks out that their favorite driver had NO shot at winning the coveted championship.  These fans had no incentive or interest in purchasing tickets to follow the soon-to-be crowned Champion to the end of the season.  

So fans complained and NASCAR listened, right?  NO.  NASCAR took a huge hit during the latest recession.  People were losing their homes, jobs and filing bankruptcy just to make it through.  People’s expendable incomes to spend on races and infield camping took a HUGE hit.  Tracks were taking out entire sections of grandstands to reduce track and maintenance costs.  NASCAR was in trouble, not because they kept changing the rules and pissing fans off, but because their fans were in serious financial trouble.

No longer able to fill the grandstands, NASCAR created the “NEW” Chase Format!

IMO, The new “Playoff” style format was a brilliant NASCAR marketing strategy because of the attention it now brings every week to the sport and how it keeps more fans watching until that very last race of the season!  Why?

Instead of having only ONE #DriverNation interested in the final race, you now have FOUR #DriverNations hoping their driver can pull out a championship and 39 other #DriverNations watching just to see if the “Chasers” will crash each other out of spite. 

Jeff Gordon and team will have to try again in 2015
© Photo by Patti Buchanan

It’s always been about the money….always will.  Whether your favorite driver made it or not, there are more fans talking NASCAR and chase format than ever before.  Good Job NASCAR! 

Which format do you really think can sell more tickets?  Share your "Opinion" of the NASCAR Chase format here.