by Lynn Jordan

Created on: November 11, 2007   Last Updated: December 20, 2009

NASCAR's Chase for the Cup is the Nextel Cup's equivalent of the playoffs in other sports. The Chase happens during the last 10 races of the season and determines the champion of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

In 2003, Matt Kenseth was so far ahead of the other drivers in the point standings that the end of the racing series became anticlimactic. Television ratings and ticket sales plummeted. The Chase for the Cup, which started in 2004, was NASCAR's attempt to fix the problem and add excitement to the end of the Nextel season. In the years since the Chase's inception, the rules have changed slightly.

For 2007, the 12 Nextel drivers with the highest point standings after the first 26 races have their points reset to 5000 plus 10 points for every race they've won. This erases big point leads and closes the gap between the drivers, making the last 10 races more competitive.

According to Jeff Gordon, the driver who led in the points leading up to the chase, this system destroys the ability to compare a champion driver back before the Chase to a driver after the Chase system was implemented. Brian Frances, the chairman and CEO of NASCAR pointed out that history is a moving target, and NASCAR has had many changes over the years.

Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson, benefited by the addition of 10 points for every race won. These two Hendrix Racing drivers were in first and second place going into the last two races of the season and are only 30 points apart. A third member of the team, Kyle Busch was in 4th place. Three Richard Childress Racing drivers are also in the Chase, as well as two drivers from Roush Fenway and two drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing. Penske Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. both have one driver each in the Chase. This domination of the Chase by teams lessons the sense of competition, according to some.

During these last 10 races, drivers earn points for each race in the same manner as the first 26 races. Each driver who leads a lap earns five bonus points. Five bonus points are also awarded to the driver who led the most laps. The winner of the race earns 185 points plus the five bonus points for leading a lap. For each race, 195 points are the maximum assigned. The winner must also have led the most laps to earn the 195 points.

In 2009  Hendrix drivers finished in the top three positions. Jimmie Johnson won his fourth cup trophy. Mark Martin can out of retirement to finish second. Jeff Gordon finished in 3rd place. 

Drivers not in the chase do not have their points reset and continue on with the normal point system. The driver in 13th place receives a $1,000,000 bonus and an invitation to the awards banquet. However, drivers not in the Chase are not eligible to win the Cup. This focuses media attention on the Chase for the Cup, placing extra pressure on the drivers and on the teams.

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