This news might be worth pinging the NASCAR group.
The biggest lesson Dale Earnhardt Jr. got from the inaugural Chase for the Championship is that from now on, "You don't have to take the first 26 races (of a season) as seriously."
If America's favorite NASCAR driver feels that way, then how is the public to perceive regular-season races henceforth? Especially after tasting the intensity and suspense of playoffs for the first time?
All in all, the Chase "kind of turned the sport a little bit in my favor," Earnhardt Jr. said, "as far as not having to take it so seriously every time, not having to live and die by the sword, just going out there and having fun and racing. At least that's the way for the first 26 races."
Don't fret about making the playoffs: "If you're a good-enough team, you'll make the top 10," Earnhardt Jr. said.
Jimmie Johnson, runner-up for the championship -- and the driver who won the most races, eight -- sensed the same thing.
"You didn't have that yearlong stress to worry about," Johnson said. "I look at that, and I think that's going to be good for years to come."
All this fun and relaxation could cut both ways.
It could return NASCAR to the wild old days of Fireball Roberts and Curtis Turner and rollicking racing all-out to win before Winston money made the season championship the overriding goal.
Then again, it could sink NASCAR's first 26 races into the humdrum of the regular seasons of major-league baseball and the NBA where each year, for months, the question until just before playoff time is this: Who cares?
Hope this works out for Jr. He's made some mistakes, but he's generally contributed more than his rides have. He's a top 5 driver (or better) in top ten cars.
Thanks for the ping.
I think Norm pinged the Nascar group.
I can't believe someone scooped me on a Jr story.
lol
;)