IN AN ATTEMPT TO INJECT MORE “EXCITEMENT” into the final races of the year, 3 seasons back NASCAR introduced a playoff-type format where the top 10 teams (expanded to 12 this year) started from scratch for the final 10 races in a points-dash to the end.

But what that has done, in effect, is shorten the season by ten races for most of the other teams, making it almost impossible to make a run for the points title if you get off to a slow start.

As a result, many of the top drivers such as Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett and Sterling Marlin are already out of contention for the shoot-out.  Steve Ballard and Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star have a good article here pointing out the near-impossibility for most of the teams to have any chance at the championship this year.

Now just how exciting is the end of the season going to be when you’ve got most of the top teams just filling out the field?

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