>Wasn't there something in recent years though that
>without the chase the championship on occasion would
>have been locked up well before final couple of races?
>Trying to remember.
This is probably true, but this is racing that we are talking about. May the best man (team and driver) win... and if the top spot is clinched before the last several races are run, then so be it. The "manufactured" Chase is a failure. The all important TV ratings are dropping like a rock. NASCAR needs to do something , but I think that they are still being blinded by all of the $$$ that the original TV contracts is paying them.