NASCAR Talk

USAToday has compiled the statistics and they have come to the conclusion that there were more accidents this year in the 10 races at the end of the season known as the “Chase for the Championship” at the Nextel Cup level of racing. Their calculations showed there were 89 recorded incidents in the last ten races, including a record number of cautions in the Atlanta race (with 14 yellow flags) and at Martinsville (a total of 21 cautions). However, the number of crashes throughout the entire season only totaled 240, which was actually 13 less recorded accidents than the 2005 season.

So what is to blame for this increase in problems during the Chase? Of course the first thing that pops into mind is the Car of Tomorrow. It was designed to create closer races and there were undoubtedly some handling issues the first year of implementation. But can it really be blamed for the increase? Is the increase even really that significant? It was only during the last 10 races that an increase was seen over the 2005 racing season, so that would mean the remainder 26 races of the 2007 season actually saw fewer problems than 2005. The Car of Tomorrow was used in races pre-chase, so that should show it isn’t really the cause, right?

What do you think? Is this increase a result of harder racing in those last 10 races, or is it just a coincidence this year? Perhaps there were just some inexperienced or overzealous drivers causing the most problems? I would even venture to say that most teams not in the Chase use that time to test many things including engine set ups and changes in chassis for the following year that could contribute to that statistic (I mean, really, how many times did Dale Earnhardt Jr. blow up this year?). Let me know your reasons in the comments below.

NASCAR, Nextel Cup, Chase for the Championship, Nextel Cup accidents 2007, Car of Tomorrow

The top twelve were set after last week’s race at Richmond. Richard Childress racing is looking strong with all three of its primary cars making the chase (even though they are 10th, 11th, and 12th right now). Hendrick is strong as always with three of their four cars in and Gibbs Racing gets two of their three cars aiming for the championship. Rousch-Fenway, after having all five cars in the first year of the Chase, is disappointed again with their hopes resting on the shoulders of Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth. DEI was able to get Martin Truex, Jr. his first taste of the Chase, and Kurt Busch for Penske rounds out the field. Here are the current standings for the top twelve after factoring in wins for the season (indicated after the points total in parentheses):

1 Jimmie Johnson, 5,060 (6)
2 Jeff Gordon, 5,040 (4)
3 Tony Stewart, 5,030 (3)
4 Carl Edwards, 5,020, (2)
5 Kurt Busch, 5,020 (2)
6 Denny Hamlin, 5,010 (1)
7 Martin Truex Jr., 5,010 (1)
8 Matt Kenseth, 5,010 (1)
9 Kyle Busch, 5,010 (1)
10 Jeff Burton, 5,010 (1)
11 Kevin Harvick, 5,010 (1)
12 Clint Bowyer, 5,000 (0)

What do you think? Do you like the extra points for wins, or should they not count for more? Did your favorite driver make it into the Chase? Leave some comments below.

NASCAR, Nextel Cup, Nextel Cup standings, Nextel Cup Chase