Of the 16 drivers who comprise the latest iteration of the Chase for the Championship, solely two of them have competed within the model that predated The Playoffs from 2004-to-2013.
Denny HamlinJoey Logano
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On one hand, this provides them each a baseline understanding of tips on how to navigate the following 10 weeks however there are additionally sufficient wrinkles that each of them are nonetheless interested by what that is going to appear like.
Essentially the most notable distinction from the earliest variations of The Chase to this one is stage racing, which was launched in 2017. As an alternative of the championship being determined purely on the ending order, it is going to be a mixture of factors earned throughout every intermission and the outcomes.
Profitable a race has additionally by no means paid extra with a 20-point distinction from first to second.
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In different phrases, with an emphasis on race-long efficiency, there aren’t any scarcity of alternatives for lots of floor to be made up or probabilities to offset a nasty race. Hamlin says he’s curious how issues could have performed out after 5 races.
“That is over a month from now, and we’re nonetheless simply going to be midway,” Hamlin stated. “I feel everybody’s going to understand fairly rapidly that is (a lot) totally different format than what we have had prior to now. We will see lots of issues that we expect are enormous moments, and so they is perhaps on reflection whenever you look again. However we cannot know them till the season’s executed in Homestead.”
Logano echoed that sentiment.
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“Despite the fact that they name it The Chase, it is nonetheless means totally different than what The Chase was then,” Logano stated. “The best way the seeding is and the separation by means of the sphere, it is fairly totally different, and we now have phases now too.
“It is fairly a bit totally different than the previous means too. It simply has the identical title.”
For one, wanting Tony Stewart’s unimaginable run of successful half the ultimate 10 races in 2011, Logano wasn’t going to win from the ninth seed within the earlier model of the Chase for the Championship.
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“That is our second wind,” Logano stated.
Chase Briscoe appropriately factors out {that a} run like what Stewart went on in 2011 would doubtless clinch the championship the week earlier than the finale. Profitable signifies that a lot now in comparison with again then.
“For those who might win 5 out of the ten races this yr, I imply, you are going to clinch earlier than Homestead,” Briscoe stated. “You are going to clinch earlier than Homestead so long as you do not DNF the opposite 4 races earlier than Homestead.
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“So yeah, it is totally different now with the added factors for successful, and even the phases, it simply modifications loads from what it was. Possibly there’s something to study from the consistency standpoint nevertheless it’s so totally different I really feel like now with the phases and additional factors for successful.”
To that time, that is nonetheless essentially the identical idea as NASCAR’s first model of a playoff, in {that a} championship can be determined by which groups places collectively the perfect 10 race stretch.
Jimmie Johnson gained six of these 10, and his success was primarily the explanation NASCAR moved away from the Chase for the Championship, however these championships have been earned by means of consistency.
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Chase Elliott stated he watched these seasons and admired what his future teammate did.
“You needed to be good for all 10 weeks,” Elliott stated.
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This can be a far cry from the win and also you’re in period that outlined the next decade after The Chase for the Championship. This format seeded drivers primarily based on their season lengthy efficiency and can proceed to reward or punish primarily based on what occurs over everything of the ultimate 10.
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“I feel it is extra according to that conventional year-long format,” Elliott stated. “It is not clearly, however it’s extra according to that. And 10 weeks is a very long time and issues can change fast. … I have a look at definitely the dominance of Jimmie … They simply executed at a excessive degree, went to tracks that they have been simply far superior at and have been in a position to piece collectively 10 actually good weeks.
“However every a type of years have been just a little totally different. That they had battles proper all the way down to the wire some years and had battles that he was fairly properly executed earlier than they obtained to Homestead and others.”
Hamlin stated this format is significantly extra simply than the one which actually simply bit him final yr.
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“I definitely assume that every one of them would let you know it is a extra truthful option to do it,” Hamlin stated. “It is not the 36 races that a number of the previous guys have been actually pushing for. I definitely would have cherished the 36 races because it stood now, however we couldn’t have predicted this, predicted the long run.
“However, I am high quality with it. We obtained a fantastic schedule forward of us and I feel that that is definitely such an enormous leap ahead in crowning a champion from what we have had.”
Equally, Christopher Bell praised this format for having ‘no gimmicks’ and ‘no video games.’
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“It is simply actually 10 races,” Bell stated. “Go on the market and carry out properly each single week or carry out nearly as good as you may each week. Earlier than there have been type of these – when you have a nasty race or a nasty observe, it is like, okay, simply survive this observe and make your factors up at this different observe, after which we will get a reset whereas we do not have that anymore.”
Logano referred to as the ultimate 10 races underneath this format ‘hell’ within the strain that it locations on contenders.
“10 races of hell, Jimmie Johnson stated that one time, and it is fairly true,” Logano stated. “It is a grueling 10 weeks nevertheless it’s a reasonably cool trophy on the finish of it, you already know what I imply? The sensation of successful the entire thing is well worth the grind all day lengthy.
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“With that in thoughts, it is not that arduous to encourage your self when you already know the prize and the way superior it’s. You must maintain grinding. The agony of defeat hurts, and hurts extra, however chasing it’s well worth the worth.”
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Christopher Bell: New format brings “extra strain” and believes he has to start out successful
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