NASCAR News – Major Changes Coming to Chase Format

According to a report from the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR wants to change the Chase playoff format and the points system for their Sprint Cup Series this upcoming season.

Pay per head services read the newspaper and noticed multiple sources briefed on the plan this week.

NASCAR plants to increase the Chase field from 12 drivers to 16, but a round of eliminations would take place after the third, sixth and ninth race of the 10-race Chase, setting up a winner-takes-all among four drivers in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

As for the Chase field expanding to 16, a win during the 26-race regular season, which begins with the February 23 Daytona 500, would virtually assure a driver to qualify for the Chase. If there were more than 16 winners during the regular season, then the 16 drivers with the most wins and highest in points would make the playoff field.

Earlier this month, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France addressed the issue of the current Chase format and the points system for their premier series during an interview on the Motor Racing Network radio program “NASCAR Live.”

“We are not satisfied that we have the exact balance we want with winning, consistency, points, running for a championship,” France said on the program. “We think we can make some tweaks to continue to incentivize risk-taking and racing harder.”

NASCAR has determined the Cup championship using a playoff format since 2004.