NASCAR is "taking another look at what could be done differently" about the Chase for the Sprint Cup, according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. Ideas being discussed include increasing the Cup field from 12 to 15 drivers, "elimination rounds, different Chase tracks and a system that could send a handful of drivers into the season finale for a winner-take-all situation." NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France said, "The big design is to have playoff-type moments that only can be, in any sport, created when there's a lot on the line at any one moment, right? That's what the essence of Game 7s, eliminations, and all that are. What we're talking about is enhancing it in a way that will bring out more of the winning moments, the big moments that happen in sports." He added, "If there's a way we can do that -- and there are a couple of ways -- we're going to give that a lot of weight." Drivers Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards "expressed fear of doing anything too drastic," while Denny Hamlin "immediately jumped on Twitter to blast any changes." Fryer wrote for "too long things have stayed status quo because NASCAR falls back on the tired 'that's how we've always done it' excuse, even though the original reasoning for so many systems no longer applies." The Chase is "here to stay, and it's a very good thing for the sport." However, France "cannot continue to tweak the system every few years and expect fans to ever accept a system that changes every time NASCAR wants more interest." Fryer: "He's got to get it right this time around, once and for all" ( AP, 7/5 ). SI.com's Lars Anderson noted an elimination-style format "seems to be gaining support in the garage." One scenario calls for a 15-driver Chase "trimmed to 10" after two races, and then to five after three more events. After two more, the "field would shrink to three drivers, who would then battle for the championship over the last three races." Another idea being discussed is "to include a road-course event in the 10-race playoff" ( SI.com, 7/4 ). SHIFT & DRIVE : France on Friday confirmed that SMI "has submitted a scheduling request to NASCAR for at least one change to its part of the 2011 Sprint Cup season." ISC on Thursday said that it "had submitted a schedule proposal for a second Cup race for its Kansas Speedway." NASCAR is expected to release its '11 schedule this summer ( LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/3 ). SCENEDAILY.com's Bob Pockrass noted NASCAR "has not denied any recent realignment request from any public corporation to move dates within its portfolio but NASCAR does have the final say." France said that "one of the biggest issues is just how the change fits into the schedule" ( SCENEDAILY.com, 7/2 ). ESPN.com's Terry Blount said SMI Chair & CEO Bruton Smith is trying to secure the Sprint Cup season finale race for Las Vegas, moving it from Miami, which "would require a lot of the pieces of the puzzle to change." The Atlanta Motor Speedway "would probably lose a race that would end up going to Las Vegas and Miami would get a date that would be outside the final race of the season" ( "NASCAR Now," ESPN2, 7/6 ). Meanwhile, FOXSPORTS.com's Lee Spencer noted while the Sprint Cup schedule is "likely not to be shortened any time soon, the Nationwide schedule is under review." Some Nationwide and Truck Series dates "could move to weeknight shows" by '12 ( FOXSPORTS.com, 7/6 ). FUELING THE SPECULATION : France on Friday said that the organization "might not use Ethanol next season, going against previous comments from series officials that it would be used in 2011." He said, "I don't know what will happen in '11. We're working on a lot of things. What I can tell you is we will have a very slow, very steady and sometimes with a big impact, but steady march towards ... this sport looking and feeling and acting more green." France added, "We're on a long steady march to a much greener sport and we will be announcing, I hope, in the next many months, some big moves in that area" ( ROANOKE TIMES, 7/4 ).
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