Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNoun
Champ, do you have a list of who would have won the championship if it hadn't been for The Chase format? I think I recall you had that list before.
Well, I agree about Kurt Busch, but the season isn't over yet. He's had 2 top 5's and 2 top 10's, and a win, but 4 DNF's. Those DNF's are a killer. I think Busch will have a few more top 5's before the season is over.
It will be good for Stewart-Haas if they have 3 cars in the Chase (assuming Tony Stewart can finally turn his season around). Harvick is dominant right now, the way Kenseth was last year. He's going to be hard to beat.
I'm still waiting for them to announce a new rule to The Chase, that being a "fan vote" (you know that one is coming). Then they would get their dream, Danica in The Chase.
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The last three years are convoluted because of the dramatic change in how points are awarded vs. the "classic" point system. But here are the top 5 for those years.
◦2013 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings without Chase:
[after Homestead, race 36 of 36]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [6 wins], 1248
2) #29-Kevin Harvick(X) [4 wins], 1207, -41
3) #20-Matt Kenseth(X) [7 wins], 1192, -56
4) #18-Kyle Busch(X) [4 wins], 1163, -85
5) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X), 1144, -104
◦2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings without Chase:
(classic system using current points system but NOT the chase system - unoffical)
[after Homestead, race 36 of 36]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski(X) [5 wins], 1259
2) #16-Greg Biffle(X) [2 wins], 1240, -19
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [5 wins], 1231, -28
4) #17-Matt Kenseth(X) [3 wins], 1218, -41
5) #15-Clint Bowyer(X) [3 wins], 1213, -46
◦2011 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings [not the Chase]:
[after Homestead, race 36 of 36]:
using the CURRENT points system, but NOT the Chase system, just points.
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #99-Carl Edwards (x) [1 win], 1278
2) #29-Kevin Harvick (x)[4 wins], 1200, -78
3) #14-Tony Stewart (x)[5 wins], 1191, -87
4) #48-Jimmie Johnson (x)[2 wins], 1187, -91
5) #17-Matt Kenseth (x)[3 wins], 1183, -95
2004 - 2010 - who should have won vs who did:
Year Classic Points Champ
2004 Jeff Gordon (5) - Kurt Busch (2)
2005 Tony Stewart (2) - Tony Stewart
2006 Jimmie Johnson - Jimmie Johnson (2)
2007 Jeff Gordon (6) - Jimmie Johnson (3)
2008 Carl Edwards - Jimmie Johnson (4)
2009 Jimmie Johnson (2) - Jimmie Johnson (5)
2010 Kevin Harvick - Jimmie Johnson(6)
http://www.jayski.com/teams/chase-history.htm
As to Kurt - the season is not over yet - Busch... I agree - it isn't over. Kurt has the talent to finish ahead of Danica - I'm not worried about him overtaking her. But I don't think he'd be able to have a chance at winning the Championship under the classic system with the hole he's dug himself into.
And just in case you didn't realize - his 2 top 5's are the same as his 2 top 10's and include his win. If you eliminate those 2 races - his best finish is 21st. His average finish with a win and a 3rd place finish is 25.5. And there were only 3 DNF's in point races. The DNF in the Sprint Unlimited was meaningless.
Don't even think about a fan vote for the Chase...
