Posts Tagged: sprint cup

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7
Oct 09

Motorsports Authentics On Verge Of Bankruptcy

Story from Reuters.

I guess when you make crappy products, this sort of thing will happen. In all seriousness though, I remember saying years ago that this was a bad idea when you a complete standardization of racing apparel and diecasts. The market worked better when there were competing companies that actually made items worth buying. Maybe it's because I stopped collecting, but the diecast business doesn't seem to be as booming as it was. I haven't bought a new racing hat in over a year because the older ones I have are better. I think it's time to declare MA a failure. My fear was oversaturation of a few certain drivers, and that's what happened. There really are fans of drivers other than the top 5 most marketable and when those fans can't find anything to buy to support their drivers, they go away. Add to that less people watching and paying attention to NASCAR now, this really shouldn't surprise anyone.
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5
Oct 09

What’d I Tell Ya

It's still too early to crown a champion. Tony Stewart stormed back into title contention with a win at Kansas, Juan Pablo Montoya made another impressive statement, and the 5/48 show got a little bigger as they proved that, yes, they're human. On now to California... sorry, Auto Club Speedway. It should be interesting to see who finishes where. Fun to watch? I'll get back to you on that... yesterday's ratings were brutal.
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28
Sep 09

Everybody, Overreact Right Now!

Jimmie Johnson dominated Dover yesterday to record his 4th win of the year and move 10 points behind Mark Martin in the championship. However, is this really the end of the championship? I think not, there are 8 races left. A lot of media types have already written their 'fourpeat' stories because Johnson won yesterday. The same way Martin won at Loudon and everyone proclaimed he was the man to beat. Things changed in one week? Really? I must have missed the part where the last 8 races of the year were a foregone conclusion. Johnson dominated yesterday, yes. He also won the first race at Dover so it's not like he has been an also-ran there and magically found something. That would be Martin's win at Loudon. Johnson is a five-time winner at Dover.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's actually talk about this championship a little. The way I see it, there are only 8 guys that have a chance now. Not by margin, but by place. I'm only including 8th-place Jeff Gordon because he is who he is. Realistically, the only guys that can run well enough in the final stretch of the year to take it all are Martin, Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart. I was worried about Smoke since he wrapped up a spot so early and rode around for a month, but they showed they're still going to be a factor. Busch and Montoya have shown they can go toe-to-toe with anyone. If I had to give an edge I'd give it to Montoya, who is riding a huge wave of confidence and the #42 team looks the best they have all year. Not dissimilar to the way Busch's #97 team looked in the first Chase in 2004. Next up are 3 speedway races in a row - Kansas, California, and Charlotte. These races will decide who still has a chance this year. Right now you'd have to look as those same 5 guys mentioned before as the ones to watch at those races. After Charlotte, we'll know who the real contenders are.
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26
Sep 09

The (Real) Arrival of Juan Pablo Montoya

Consider me on the bandwagon that thinks Juan Pablo Montoya could be champion this year. It's been fun this year and really since the summer, when JPM's consistency became better and better. The way the team was racking points and running in the top 10 showed that they had a plan. This team has to be considered as much of a surprise as anyone. A lot of media (myself included) didn't think EGR would be good. If anyone, I figured it would be Truex in this position. Not the case and I think that's been a good thing.

Montoya's season really arrived when he dominated the Brickyard this year. Despite not getting the win, he showed that he could - and would soon. That hasn't been accomplished yet but consider me surprised if it doesn't during the Chase. Another good thing I like is that this team hasn't peaked yet. They could indeed be peaking now. How improbable is that - a team made up of an absentee owner and an owner that's only around when his other teams have an off weekend, a team that combined fielded three times as many teams a season ago, sponsorship issues, rated below many other teams on their manufacturer pecking order, and they could celebrate in Homestead as the 2009 Sprint Cup Champions.
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17
Sep 09

NASCAR Changes Part 1 – Chase Format

I'm advocating a return to the Chase format as it stood in the first few years. The Chase for the Cup should only include 10 drivers. In years past, of course, it also included anyone within a certain amount of points of the leader after Richmond. I always that idea was faulty as well. I still dislike the idea of 12 drivers in the Chase because I think that's still too many. For me, being worthy of being a champion should be a smaller pool than what we have. With that in mind, here's what I'm proposing:

Go to 10-race, 10-driver format

- Re-seeding reverts back to tiered standings plus race win bonuses

1. 5050 points + 10 points per win

2. 5040 points + 10 points per win

3. 5030 points + 10 points per win

4. 5020 points + 10 points per win

5. 5010 points + 10 points per win

6. 5000 points + 10 points per win

7. 4990 points + 10 points per win

8. 4980 points + 10 points per win

9. 4970 points + 10 points per win

10. 4960 points + 10 points per win

That formula then produces the points standings going into the first race of the Chase.

I thought I would incorporate win bonuses in order to still provide an emphasis for winning during the 26 races before the Chase. Tell me the battle for 10th in any year wouldn't be less intense than a battle for 12th. I think 10 is the best round number in these matters. The Chase will be more prestigious enacting this change.

Coming next in this series, a revamped points system.

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