The Chase is Great for NASCAR

There are many NASCAR fans who are unhappy about the Chase for the Nextel Cup, where the last ten races basically determine the winner of the Nextel Cup Championship. The top 12 drivers in points are seeded according to how many wins they have so far.

But the person who has to like it the least is Jeff Gordon.

Oh sure, he talks publicly about how exciting it is. But the reality is that the Chase has basically cost Gordon two championships, both in 2004 and this season. Both years, he would have easily outpaced the rest of the field, and would be a six-time champion by now, putting him only one behind the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty for second all-time. But both years, other drivers were just a little better in the Chase.

Under the current format, it will be difficult for Gordon to catch those two, and it's really unfortunate, because Gordon probably has just as much talent as those guys. But the Chase is still a great thing.

In sports, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. And the Chase ensures the Champion will finish strong. No longer can a driver rack up a bunch of points early and then cruise to the title. We actually saw this in 2007 in the Busch series, where Carl Edwards won with two races left. He got out to an enormous lead, but basically struggled in the second half of the year. Still, his lead was so huge, there was basically no chance of him not winnhe championship.

We see playoff systems throughout sports, and there are many times when the most dominant team doesn't win the championship. In 2006, the San Diego Chargers had the best record in the NFL, but one bad game in the playoffs ended their Super Bowl dreams.

Think back to all the great moments in sports. Most of them came in a postseason setting. NASCAR has now joined the party, and I think it will continue to add nothing but excitement.