NASCAR Chase - ESPN Killing Weekly Race TV

This is a repeat of a post from this blog back in 2010.  My thots today are stronger than they were when I wrote the original post.  Watching Chase races on ESPN consists of watching cars with drivers that are in the Chase.  Granted those 12 drivers are the best of the year and qualified for the Chase, but the TV coverage of the race should focus on action on the track, not necessarily a single car focus detailing the performance of the current leader of the Chase, or other Chase members.  There are 43 drivers on the track each week and the racing should be the focus of NASCAR race TV, not the final champion for the year.  I'll guarantee you that if I'm sitting in the stands for the race, my last thot is of a Chase contender; my thots are about my favorite driver, who may not even be in the CHASE for the SPRINT CUP!

JD, here in the BToS ranting about TV coverage of weekly racing.

Below is Post from 2010:

Sounds a bit stupid to use that line as a subject, doesn't it. NASCAR made a decision a few years back that in order to give the NASCAR CUP racing season a bit of fizz, it would glamorize the points championship. Thus; they created a 10 race Chase.

Originally 10, and now 12, drivers qualified for the Chase based on their point standings at the close of the first 26 races. That group of Chase drivers are isolated on points from the other NASCAR race drivers for the remaining 10 races of the season and have their own points subset to determine the winner of the NASCAR (your favorite sponsor goes here) CUP Championship.

The goal in glamorizing the end of season Chase was to enhance TV ratings and NASCAR Inc. profit margins by focusing the public's interest on 'The Chase'.

NASCAR has been successful in directing TV coverage from weekly races on to The Chase. Any time you look for some NASCAR news, the focus is on 'The Chase' and remaining challengers for the NASCAR CUP trophy.

Now the opinion from the Big Town of Savage begins. Tailoring publicity to The Chase leaves little emphasis on the race of the week and the track that's hosting the event. It's 'ALL CHASE ALL THE TIME'.

Unfortunately, the NASCAR fan base wasn't built on 'racing for the chase'. The NASCAR fan base was built on weekly races and race venues. Any true NASCAR fan loves to visit their favorite track to be part of the race. NASCAR's inherent excitement is on the track on raceday; not TV hoopla about a contrived competition for points to win a points trophy at the end of the year.

There's a wonderful trophy and payoff for each of the 36 races on the NASCAR CUP schedule. There is nothing more exciting than the Winner's Circle after a grueling Sunday afternoon race with the driver, owner and team excited beyond belief at their victory. This is the ultimate NASCAR Race experience; winning this week's race at Richmond, Bristol or Charlotte in front of great fans.

If you're watching TV coverage of the race the first thing you hear out of the announcer's mouth isn't necessarily excitement over the race winner, who gets little TV time, it's the point standings for The Chase.

NASCAR needs to eliminate 'The Chase' and return weekly focus to the race and the race winner's family of team members. True NASCAR fans love racing; they don't love 'The Chase'.

Contrary to NASCAR's original intent of adding fizz to the NASCAR season, what NASCAR has actually done with The Chase is remove emphasis from weekly racing; thus diminishing the importance of their core product, RACING. The Chase is a loser...

Ponder it and let NASCAR know what you think of 'The Chase',

JD

PS - Weekly racing is the backbone of NASCAR. Over the many, many years I've followed auto racing of all types, it's always been the racing that was exciting. The reason I tune in each week is to see rubbin' and racin' and the post race excitement as the drivers get in each other's face to let 'em know they'll be the one wrecked next time...