The format of the Chase to the Sprint Cup (NASCAR) and the FedEx Cup (PGA Tour) both bother me because they are billed as a "playoff," when they are, in fact, nothing of the sort.
In order to have a playoff, you need to have at least two leagues/divisions/conferences/etc. Neither sport has that. Just singling out the top performers during the regular season and making them the only ones who can win does not a playoff make.
Those two programs are not, in my mind, marketing innovations.
The upcoming IndyCar Racing League (IRL) race at Texas June 11 gave me an idea, though. Instead of one long 550 km race, they are running two back-to-back 275 km races. These are both full-field affairs, with the running order in the first race determined by traditional qualifying procedures (fastest lap starts first), and the second race starting positions determined by the finishing order in the first race (could be highest finish first, or invert the field).
Pretty cool. More action for the fans.
My idea For NASCAR takes it quite a bit further.
Let's organize the Sprint Cup drivers into two leagues -- let's call them the American and National leagues, just for convenience.
Before the season starts, the drivers are assigned to each league based on the prior season's point finish. Drivers who finished in an odd numbered position (1,3,5, etc.) would go into the American League, and the even-numbered finishers go into the National League. There would be 25 (or more) drivers in each league, with pretty good parity between the leagues.
The first 26 races of the season would be run as two league races -- half field events. Instead of the Goody's Fast Relief 500, as at Martinsville last weekend, there'd be the Goody's Fast Relief American 250, and the Goody's Fast Relief National 250. Points would be awarded according to the current system.
It would be great for fans, because they get more meaningful action each weekend. NASCAR would have a great opportunity to stage some sort of event between the races -- a “halftime show,” if you will. The networks would love it.
After 26 races, only the top 12 to 15 drivers from each league go into the Chase -- that's the 24 to 30 top drivers, which would make for great racing. The Chase races would all be full length affairs, designed to test the durability and talent of the teams competing. And the Chase would be a true playoff between drivers from two leagues. There would be a champion driver and a champion league. Drivers might cooperate on track more to prevent a rival league’s driver from advancing -- it would add a new dimension to race strategy.
The drivers who didn’t make the cut end their season there. No “start-and-park” teams in the Chase, no wasting money driving laps that don’t mean anything.
Races would be both shorter and more exciting. There would be lower costs associated with fielding a team for 26 short races, which might bring more sponsors into the sport. Sponsor deals could be worked for the “regular season” and then again for the playoffs. Much more flexibility.
NASCAR fans tune in more during the summer than the fall -- the NFL is pretty stiff competition. For a team owner running outside the top 10 or 12, the Chase is currently a huge money drain. With my proposed playoff system, there is more excitement for the fans and a better ROI for the owners and sponsors.
With a total of 50 cars each weekend, there's more opportunity for owners and drivers to compete at the Cup level -- and more opportunity for sponsors.
That strikes me as a marketing innovation!
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