Hunter: Chase changes coming for '07 season

Hunter: Chase changes coming for '07 season

NASCAR.COM
January 4, 2007
05:29 PM EST (22:29 GMT)

More, more, more -- that's the message from NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter.

During a visit to USA Today's newsroom in McLean, Va., on Thursday, Hunter said NASCAR is "still running the models" but the 2007 Nextel Cup season will feature more points for victories and more drivers in the Chase for the Cup, the newspaper reported on its Web site.

Hunter said an official announcement will be made during NASCAR's media tour Jan. 22-26 in Charlotte.

NASCAR chairman Brian France hinted at changing the Chase last June.

"What I have always said about the Chase was we needed a few years under our belt to see how it evolves, how it changes in strategy, see how the actual formula we have really works," France said. "Now in our third year ... it's the ideal time for us make adjustments."

The Chase was devised by France when he took over as chairman in 2004. The format was designed to spice up a stale championship race in which winners were running away with the title and routinely clinching before the season finale.

France wanted more excitement and a dramatic playoff system that could compete with the NFL for television ratings.

The result was the Chase, which uses the first 26 races of the season as a qualifier to set up the title run. The top 10 drivers in the standings automatically make it in, and any drivers within 400 points of the leader are also eligible.

They then compete during the final 10 events to decide the championship.

"We'll be looking at nothing new -- everything that we'll be looking at has been brought up by various people the last couple of years," France said last year. "Just various things that we think will build what we're hoping for, which are big moments and a bigger stage for the drivers.

"That's what the Chase has always been about. It's about showcasing their skills."