The NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship is in its third year, and we are starting to see some unintended consequences of the once-controversial system for determining a champion.
It used to be that drivers who were moving to other teams would finish out their contract and the season with their former teams. Now, teams that are out of contention for the Chase are electing to release drivers immediately, resulting in the game of musical chairs we have seen in Cup recently.
One of the beneficiaries of this new philosophy is second-generation racer David Gilliland, who by virtue of a near-miraculous Busch series win got the attention of Robert Yates. Yates has elected to put Gilliland in the No. 38 car, recently vacated by Elliott Sadler, and run the youngster the remainder of the season.
This will make Gilliland ineligible for Rookie of the Year in 2007, but the team apparently feels that getting a head start on the season is more important than rookie honors. A driver can run no more than five races in a year and still be eligible for Rookie of the Year in a subsequent season.
Going into today's race at California Speedway, the Race to the Chase seems to have accomplished what Brian France set out to do with it. It has created lots of "buzz" as the drama of exactly who will make the Chase has fans paying attention.
According to statisticians, there are 574,560 different scenarios for the order of the top 11 driver positions at the end of today's event. Although Jimmy Johnson and Matt Kenseth are locked in to the Chase, there is a mere 48-point difference separating positions four through 10, with Kasey Kahne just out of the chase in 11th only 138 points behind fourth place. All the drivers in fourth through 10th can potentially either clinch a Chase berth or fall out of the Chase in Sunday's race, although no top-10 driver can be mathematically eliminated at California. You can figure out the rest of the scenarios on your own, if you have the time.
Of course, NASCAR CEO Brian France has hinted at "tweaks" to the Chase format for 2007, but so far nothing concrete has been released on the subject. 2007 will be an interesting season even without any changes to the Chase format, with Toyota's Camry making its Cup debut and the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow. Say what you will about NASCAR, it keeps things interesting.
It was good to see Benny Parsons back in the booth for last week's Nextel Cup race. I have always enjoyed Benny's thoughtful analysis and his genuine good humor. I certainly hope he can prevail over his illness and go on to entertain and enlighten race fans for years to come.
I recently received an update on a local second-generation racer, Carson Iverson of Carson City. Son of Rob Iverson, Carson has been at the top of his game lately. At the USAC Quarter Midget Dirt Grand Nationals in Elma, Wash., Carson set fast time in the Lt. 160 class, then finished second in the main after starting fifth. The following week, he increased his points lead at the California 500 in Rio Linda, topping off a first and second in his heat races with a main event win.
Carson is well-supported by local sponsors Competition Carburetion, Kustom Kreations, Ceramic Tile Center, RF Engines, Long Racing Engine Systems, DataDot Motorsports, and Jimmy Paniagua. Quarter midget racing is a great training ground for young racers, and has produced champions like Jimmy Vasser.
Another local youngster who is doing well is Mackena Bell, who currently sits fourth in points in Shasta Speedway's Legends division. Bell finished fourth at the last race on August 19, and has a heat race win and eight top-five main event finishes in nine races.
Finally, I want to offer condolences to the family and friends of Robert Kline, who lost his battle with cancer last week. Robert was a Motorsports legend; a competitive driver, car owner, and race official, who passed his love of racing on to his children and grandchildren. He will be missed. Godspeed, Robert.