The Chase does make the last few races a little more interesting, especially with Steveegg's analysis, but I feel it creates an illegitimate champ in some cases, like last year.
I think it's interesting because Steve keps us tuned into where the drivers are supposed to be. ;)
......And this year, 4 drivers out of the top fifteen would have swapped places.
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* "Classic" Points Standings - Top 15...the old way, not the Chase after Homestead, race 36 of 36:
1) #20-Tony Stewart, 5199
2) #16-Greg Biffle, 4984, -215
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4771, -428
4) #6-Mark Martin, 4676, -523
5) #99-Carl Edwards, 4597, -602
6) #2-Rusty Wallace, 4512, -687
7) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4451, -748
8) #12-Ryan Newman, 4409, -790
9) #19-Jeremy Mayfield, 4281, -918
10) #97-Kurt Busch, 4248, -951
11) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4174, -1025
12) #42-Jamie McMurray, 4130, -1069
13) #38-Elliott Sadler, 4084, -1115
14) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4072, -1127
15) #88-Dale Jarrett, 3960, -1239
(Jayskis.com 11-20-2005)
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Edwards and Johnson would have been swapped, as well as Wallace and Newman.