Motorsports

A different race

By JIM TOMLIN
Published November 21, 2004

This season's Chase for the Championship, in which points for the top 10 drivers were adjusted with 10 races to go, ended a system that essentially had been in place since 1976. If that system, with no adjustments, were still in place, the title picture would be much different.

Sure, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be in the picture, but one important figure would not: Kurt Busch. The current points leader would have been 242 out of first and out of contention. Gordon would be leading Johnson by 52 points and Earnhardt by 102. One could argue that Earnhardt, though he'd be trailing by fewer points, would have a better shot because he would have two drivers to worry about, not four.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Mayfield is the master of timing and Jamie McMurray wishes he were. Mayfield sneaked into the Chase in the final regular-season race; he'll do no worse than 10th in this system but would otherwise be in danger of sinking as low as 15th. McMurray barely missed the Chase and has been one of the hottest drivers since; he would have been seventh and a threat for the top five under the old system.

The standings after 35 races had the old system stayed in place and all the racing outcomes been the same:

1. Jeff Gordon 4,877

2. Jimmie Johnson 4,825

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4,775

4. Kurt Busch 4,635

5. Tony Stewart 4,536

6. Mark Martin 4,462

7. Jamie McMurray 4,451

8. Ryan Newman 4,283

9. Matt Kenseth 4,270

10. Elliott Sadler 4,254

11. Kasey Kahne 4,225

12. Bobby Labonte 4,145

13. Jeremy Mayfield 4,125

14. Dale Jarrett 4,123

15. Kevin Harvick 4,094

[Last modified November 21, 2004, 00:16:21]