In reality the NASCAR season is split into two distinct parts. For the first part, which includes races one to twenty-six, all of the drivers are trying to get themselves into the top ten to twelve positions on the drivers' championship leader board by end of all these races.

Thus, while the drivers are trying for the championship from day one of the season, the chase for the cup begins in earnest at the commencement of the 27th race. Prior to this all of the drivers are endeavouring to position themselves within the top ten on the leader board, or at least a tied position within that elite group.

At the end of the twenty-sixth race the leader board is set. The top twelve drivers as at the end of the twenty-sixth race, together with who were in tied positions, have their points adjusted to a situation where it is technically impossible for any other driver outside of the chase to catch up. Thus these twelve are deemed to be the ones in contention for the "chase for the cup" and the season's champions will be determined from this group.

From the 2007 season the "chase" drivers' points are reset to 5000 plus 10 extra points for each race that they have previously won. Therefore a driver with two wins under his belt would start on 5020 points. For all of the drivers who did not make the cut for "the chase" their points remain the same as they were at the end of race twenty-six.

The points allocation for the ten races in the chase for the cup work on the same basis as every other race in the NASCAR season, for example with the winner gaining 180 points and second place 170 points, with the level of points then scaling down to last place. Furthermore, drivers can also gain points for leading a lap or leading the most number of laps in a race. To give some idea how this all works in practice

In the 2006 season, the winner and remainder of the top three in the chase for the cup started and ended the ten races with the following points, although it has to be remembered that the system for start points has changed this season as mentioned previously.

Winner Jamie Johnson - started 5045 points ended 6475 points
Second Matt Kenneth - started 5050 points ended 6419 points
Third - Denny Hamlin - started 5030 points ended 6407 points

As can be seen from this the driver who started from pole position at the commencement of the "race for the cup," Matt Kenneth, only managed to come second in the final standings. This was partially because Johnson won more races than Kenneth, five to four respectively. The surprise of this season was that Hamlin, who achieved third place, having started the chase for the cup in fifth, was in his rookie year.

During those last ten races there is a lot more attention focused upon the drivers and teams who are in the "chase for the cup" and this increase the enormous pressure they are under to produce results.

It should be said however, that it is not all over for the other drivers in the races. They will be endeavouring to ensure that they finish the season in the top 35 as this guarantees them additional points for the first five races of the following season.

Therefore, although the whole of the NASCAR season is exciting to watch, the chase for the cup over those last ten races, because of the closeness of the points system, brings it to an even more thrilling climax.

Race information supplied by www.nascar.com

Learn more about this author, Paul Lines.
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