See, I'm not opposed to the idea of the chase. I don't mind it. However, the sticking point with me is that it hasn't really done what its supposed to.

Remember that, AFAIK, this is the only year it really came down to the wire. They're onto something, but it needs tweaking.

What I would do, if I was given the keys to the kingdom, is put the top 10-12 guys in a completely different points system from everyone else, and base it on how they finish in relation to one another. Top chase driver in race A gets 12 pts, 2nd gets 11, 3rd gets 10 and so on. Might see more guys in the hunt for the final race.

OR

Do it almost bracket style. Take the top 32 guys over the last 5 races. The guy who finishes ahead between the 1st and the 32nd spot stays, the loser goes (out of the chase), same for the 2nd place and 31st. Then 3rd and 30th etc. Then next race its down to the top 16, then the top 8, then 4, then 2. (be good for some rivalries)

OR

Have a fan vote as to which driver is eliminated each week. However if you win the race you are exempt. (hey its late and I'm spitballing  ;))

OR

Or just have it so the farthest back finishing chase driver in any given race is out of the chase.                

Shadow wrote
"It could be argued that the post-season in any sport is "manufactured" excitement. NASCAR was just late to get in on it.

Of course, you could just hand the Stanley Cup/World Series/SuperBowl over to the team with the most points over the regular season....but that wouldn't be any fun."

That's exactly my point. Once you have playoffs, the best team doesn't always win. When you expand playoffs, the chances of the best team winning gets a little less. If it's more fun for you to watch an inferior team win a manufactured championship, well, that's fine. Just try to remember what it is though. Is it manufactured that MLB is looking to expand the playoffs so that more teams have a chance? Of course. Was it manufactured when the NFL added wild card teams? Sure. Isn't the rap on the NHL that half the league makes the playoffs? Isn't the cry of the mediocre NHL team, "just make the playoffs"? Just because these leagues have decided to decrease the chances of the best team winning, doesn't mean racing should follow.
It is my point exactly that the 48 team hasn't been the best team in 3 of the 5 championships that have been awarded to them, that's all.

How about have hot spot seats in the chase. If you have bad finishes you can be bumped out of the chase. You need to give the other 31 drivers something to race for other then 1st in the second points system which is really a battle for 13th place as we know it.

out of the 12 chase drivers there was really only a three drivers in the chase.

Points behind the leader for 4th to 12th place was 229 to 589 really a 3 man chase.

If you want to make it fair the 12 chase driver should all start at 5000 points. Harvick had a 229 over second place Jeff Gordon and then the chase comes along and Denny Hamlin moves up 9 spots and Jimmy Johnson moves up 5 spots when the chase starts. Boy that sounds fair to me.

If you don't like the start the 12 chasers at 5000 points then how about 5 points for the way they finished. So Harvick starts with 5060 points Gordon 4055.

stats may be off a bit as cant see old point system for race 26.

If they say wins are a big factor. Then anybody with a win gets a in the chase as 5 drivers without wins were in the chase and 4 drivers with wins were not. We all know they want the big stars in the chase and that's why they made it 12 from 10 as one big star didn't make it in the first year of the chase. How about 20 drivers have some past champion spots and start them off 20 drivers with 5000 points then you will see a chase.

I know i'm throwing a lot of things out ther but I feel this is the best way and it uses wins and points behind before the chase 5 points for a win but you also have to give points to the points leader before the chase.

Example

Harvick had a 420 point lead over 12 place. Give Harvick 1 point for every 10 point he had more then 12 place. 42 Points for standings plus 15 points for his wins = 57 points added to chase 5000

Gordon has 200 points from 12 place. Gordon gets 20 points and 0 points no wins = 20 points.

And so on.

NASCAR need to do something as I feel for Harvick the true 2010 Cup Champion from my point a view.

Gordon has been screwed out of two because of this format and many others.

Imaging if other sports gave an advantage when playoffs start.

How about giving football teams who won more a touchdown or 2 lead before the game starts.
What the hell give a hockey team a one or 2 goals lead before the game starts.

It is my point exactly that the 48 team hasn't been the best team in 3 of the 5 championships that have been awarded to them, that's all.

It is, what it is... no matter what formula is thought of, somebody IS gonna get screwed.

Given the nature of the beast (Pro Sports), how sponsors impact the quality of racing (if you can call it that..), no matter what; somebody is gonna get shafted.

Sponsors drive this sport - period. Get used to it. Prior to Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, the amount of money that flowed into racing was peanuts. Now it's in the multi-millions of dollars. It used to be, amateur sports where the true championship point systems and make it possible to determine who really is the best. Now, it's a total mess in these modern times. Just look at the Olympics and the amount of influence sponsors have.