It appears that the powers that control NASCAR have listened to the fans and competitors in making changes to how champions will be determined.
I have never been a fan of the Chase format where drivers were eliminated and with the “win and you’re in” mentality of recent years.
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I have always believed that champions should be determined by points earned over the full 36-race schedule and not an elimination type format.
It was announced by NASCAR that starting this year the champions in the three national touring divisions will be crowned based on points.
For the Cup Series the 16 drivers with the most points over the first 26 races of the year will compete for the championship in the final ten races with the champion determined by points.
For the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, previously the Xfinity Series, 12 drivers will compete for the championship based on points earned in nine races and for the Craftsman Truck Series ten drivers will compete over seven races.
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The change might bring fans back to NASCAR. Now if they would only eliminate the stage racing, which would be a welcome change.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, a vocal advocate for a full 36-race championship format, was delighted with the compromise that revived the Chase.
“I think that this is the most perfect compromise that you could ever ask for,” Martin said at the announcement. “It’s going to require our 2026 champion to be lightning fast and incredibly consistent, and that’s what we can all get behind.”
Martin, regarded as one of the best in NASCAR not to have earned a championship, believes the change will bring fans back to NASCAR.
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Only time will tell, but it is a step in the right direction.
In other racing news: This week during the Chili Bowl event in Tulsa, two drivers with ties to the Hoosier state are being inducted into the National Midget Hall of Fame.
Dave Darland who put together an impressive career in both Midgets and non-wing Sprint cars will be joined by David Steele.
Steele is a former winner of the Unified Group Services Little 500 at Anderson Speedway and was competitive in any car that he climbed into.
Both Darland and Steele are deserving of the recognition.
This week I have been watching lots of racing action on Flo Racing from the Chili Bowl, which runs through Saturday and the Wild West Shoot-Out from Arizona.
A trip to the Chili Bowl is on my bucket list to not only watch the racing, but to get a look at the impressive facility that hosts the event.
