Chase Has No Face

By Dylan Webster
With NASCAR’s “Race for the Championship” in only its second season, the powers that be in the Nextel Cup series must view this season as a worst case scenario. While talk of large markets and visibility is usually heard in the NBA and baseball, NASCAR now may have its own crisis.

All ten of the drivers who made the chase earned it, and most are well-known within the sport. However, the bigger story may be the names who are not involved. The sport's two most recognized drivers will not be part of the “play-off.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. the cup series’ fan favorite and Jeff Gordon, the driver most fans love to hate failed to make the cut. While names like Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart remain, this will likely gouge TV ratings and make the NFL more appealing to many of the “fringe” fans.

One positive in this year’s chase is the number of new faces. Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will both be making their first appearances in the format. With youth being the theme, Wallace and Mark Martin are the chases’ only elder statesmen.

While this is no death knell to the Nextel Cup series, it will feel strange without Earnhardt Jr. or Gordon in contention. Both drivers receive high visibility, and both have major sponsors. Part of their, and NASCAR’s appeal is the recognition of the sponsorship. The bottom line is, most people like Eardhardt Jr. because of Budweiser. After hosting Saturday Night Live, and becoming something of a personality, less Gordon equals less interest.

Now that NASCAR has a play-off system to create urgency, and to compete “drama wise” with the other major sports, it now must face the pitfalls of the same.