If NASCAR really wants to make its Race for the Chase really count for something, then I suggest the stock-car giant move the Daytona 500 to the last race of the season. That would bring so much more excitement to the sport.
Heresy, you say. Let's be real. NASCAR's TV ratings are down, and even with the excitement of Saturday's Coke Zero 400 under the lights, the crowd was no where as large as the 500 attracts. Make the Daytona 500 the real "Super Bowl" of NASCAR.
Let's face it, the Chase is boring. NASCAR should follow what Major League Baseball has done with adding wild card teams for the postseason, following the success of the NFL. The NBA and the NHL have exciting postseasons with eight teams in each conference vying for the playoffs.
Come on NASCAR: Make the racing season count for something. You want a real chase? With 43 cars on the track, reward the top 15 points leaders with starting positions up front and let 'em race, restrictor-plate style. For all the marbles, crashes and all.
NASCAR could still have the Speed Weeks races in January with the Shoot Out and the Twin 125s, and count them as the starter races for the season standings.
Imagine Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and the other top drivers going at it: One big race for the Chase in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wow!