Published: October 25, 2009 02:29 am      

IN THE FAST LANE: If you want to change the Chase, change the schedule

If you were in Brian France’s position, what would be the one change you would make to the Chase?

I imagine several of my fellow die-hard NASCAR fans have been asked that question over the years.

Some of them would say the Chase drivers should have their own points system. Some would say that more points should be awarded for wins.

And some, especially Jeff Gordon fans, would say that the Chase should be dissolved.

Whenever I’m asked the question, two words immediately come out of my mouth — the schedule.

To me, the Chase slate should consist of the 10 tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit that has a powerful combination of history and difficulty.

And obviously, that does not describe five Chase tracks — New Hampshire, Kansas, California, Phoenix and Homestead.

The following five tracks are much more deserving than the aforementioned and should be in the Chase along with Dover, Talladega, Martinsville, Lowe’s and Texas:

• BRISTOL: There has got to be more than one short track on the Chase slate.

So why not have it at the most exciting half-mile oval in NASCAR?

Bristol is one of those speedways where anything can happen, and that would just add more excitement to the Chase.

I would like to include Richmond, too. But the three-quarter-mile oval has become the ideal place for the last regular-season race when those final Chase spots are on the line.

• WATKINS GLEN: I believe the Chase needs one road course race. And the Glen is fast, has tighter turns than Infineon Raceway and the most famous road course in the United States. Therefore, it should get a Chase race.

• DARLINGTON: The Chase meets “The Track Too Tough To Tame.” Sounds like a match made in NASCAR heaven to me. And remember no track tests a driver’s skills more than Darlington.

• ROCKINGHAM: All right, I know the mile track is no longer on the Cup schedule. But the North Carolina oval was as tough as it comes back in the day, with its high banking and abrasive surface. Plus the racing is more exciting than Phoenix and New Hampshire, which are both mile ovals.

• DAYTONA: How about this idea? The season starts with the Daytona 500 and ends at the famed 21⁄2-mile oval to determine the Cup champion. Give it some thought, NASCAR.



TODAY’S TUMS FAST

RELIEF 500

at Martinsville Speedway

TOP-FIVE CONTENDERS

(Columnist’s note: Before I give my top five, I have a master plan for the rest of the Chase field on preventing Jimmie Johnson from winning his fourth straight Cup championship. Before today’s race, the other 11 Chase drivers need to kidnap Johnson, stuff 15 of Martinsville’s famous hot dogs down his throat so he will be too sick to drive and imprison him in Martinsville’s grandfather clock trophy, which is given to the race winner. Right now, that’s about the only way to stop Johnson from capturing another title. Go for it, guys!)

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yep! (Johnson’s Martinsville Yep-worthy stats: six wins, 11 top-five finishes, 14 top-10 finishes, 5.3 average finish, no hot dogs.)

2. JEFF GORDON: He used to be the king of Martinsville, as Gordon collected seven wins from 1996-2005. Now his teammate has taken over his throne. Expect Gordon to be motivated to reclaim his crown today.

3. DENNY HAMLIN: The Joe Gibbs Racing driver nearly won here in March before Johnson booted him out of the way in the closing laps to win. Plus Hamlin is one of the best on short tracks in NASCAR. His career average finish on short ovals is 9.4. Not bad.

4. TONY STEWART: In his last eight Martinsville starts, Smoke has one win, five top-five finishes and six top-10s. That’s a good sign for a guy who needs a boost right now.

5. CLINT BOWYER: Aah, my non-Chaser pick of the week. Bowyer has finished in the top 11 in each of the last five Martinsville races, including a fifth in the March event. Plus he is always tough on flat tracks and Richard Childress Racing needs some momentum going into next season.



TODAY’S DARK HORSE

• DALE EARNHARDT JR.: One, he is in a Hendrick car and Hendrick cars always run exceptional at Martinsville. Two, he has four straight top-10 finishes and eight top-fives overall in his career at the paper-clip track. Finally, he is due to have a great finish after having strong runs the last few races only to have them ruined by rotten luck.



DRIVING MOST LIKELY TO STRUGGLE

• ELLIOTT SADLER: Sadler’s driving the past few seasons has been like Indiana University football coach Bill Lynch’s coaching. He has the talent to be competitive week-in and week-out. But he takes too many risks and makes poor decisions in critical moments of a race or a season. I guess, that’s why he starts 40th today, has only three career top-10 finishes at Martinsville, is 26th in the standings in 2009, and thanks God every night that he still has a job.

Contact Kevin Harris at kevin.harris@newsandtribune.com.