NASCAR changes

[james_t]

NASCAR announced two changes for this year's racing:

1) This year 12 drivers will qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup instead of 10. That means Tony Stewart would have got in this past year.

2) Drivers will get five more bonus points for winning a race.

What do you think, NASCAR fans? It doesn't seem like the Chase has gone over that well (especially if your favorite driver gets shut out of the Chase). Do you tweaking the rules helps, or does NASCAR need to just scrap the Chase altogether? Or is there something else you'd like to see?

[LuciusBeebe]

I'd like to see them ditch it altogether. It seems like manufactured drama that falls flat.

[Eric_H]

I like the changes. 1. Winning needs to be rewarded.

2. In Stewart's case, he's clearly a top driver and had a great stretch last summer before some bad luck (and, to be fair, some bad decisions) in the final few races before the Chase that bumped him out.

This will probably go in as the "Tony Stewart Amendment." And the guys that bumped him out certainly earned their spot. But you need your biggest stars involved in the most important part of the season. To have the world's best driver racing for 11th place wasn't good for the sport.

I'm a Stewart fan, and I was really disappointed when he didn't make it. But I believe in the first year of the Chase, Gordon and Dale Jr. didn't make the Chase either. So it makes sense for NASCAR to expand it... those guys are huge stars and the faces of the sport. They need to be involved.

OK, all you Stewart haters get on here and tell me all the drivers that are better and what a (bleep) he is.

[LuciusBeebe]

Tony Stewart is the man.

[ebbieday]

I like the changes. 1. Winning needs to be rewarded.

2. In Stewart's case, he's clearly a top driver and had a great stretch last summer before some bad luck (and, to be fair, some bad decisions) in the final few races before the Chase that bumped him out.

This will probably go in as the "Tony Stewart Amendment." And the guys that bumped him out certainly earned their spot. But you need your biggest stars involved in the most important part of the season. To have the world's best driver racing for 11th place wasn't good for the sport.

I'm a Stewart fan, and I was really disappointed when he didn't make it. But I believe in the first year of the Chase, Gordon and Dale Jr. didn't make the Chase either. So it makes sense for NASCAR to expand it... those guys are huge stars and the faces of the sport. They need to be involved.

OK, all you Stewart haters get on here and tell me all the drivers that are better and what a (bleep) he is.

Well, I won't argue that Smoke is a great driver, but Dale Jr is my guy. Tony has the age and experience over Jr, but give him time...he'll be one of the greats, you'll see. Too bad he can't own his own empire at NASCAR...he could get rid of that step monster-in-law of his!