CHARLOTTE, N.
Steven Berghuis Netherland Jersey .C. - NASCAR wont change its new championship format, which chairman Brian France said
Monday is overwhelmingly popular with fans.The Chase was revamped last year into
an elimination-style system that created a winner-take-all final race among four
drivers. Kevin Harvick won the season finale at Homestead in November to claim
his first Sprint Cup title.France called it perhaps the best Chase ever and said
the excitement will carry into this season.Its overwhelmingly popular with our
most important stakeholder, the fans, France of the Chase during the kickoff to
the annual NASCAR media tour. They (fans) like the fact that it tightened up
competition. They liked the drama down the stretch. They like the emphasis on
winning. And one of the things they told us that they really liked is the idea
that we werent going to change anything. And they strongly suggested that we
didnt. And were not going to.NASCAR launched the Chase in 2004 and tweaked it
several times in the first 10 years. But it got a dramatic overhaul before the
2014 season, when the field was expanded to 16 drivers with four eliminated
after every third Chase race. The final four drivers then went to Homestead even
in the standings, with the highest finisher guaranteed the championship. The
system worked in creating an eventful finale in which all four contenders raced
for the win.France said he believed the simple formula that did not require
following points — drivers made the Chase by winning a race, and advanced
through the rounds with wins — was embraced by fans.One of the magical parts of
this Chase, and we want to make sure we keep it this way, is the simplicity of
it: Win and youre in, said France.One change coming into 2015 will be that
NASCAR will no longer permit teams to alter their cars side skirts during a
race, a widespread practice last season. Many crew chiefs believed the flaring
of the skirts violated the rules, but because NASCAR was not acting on it, they
were forced to manipulate the sheet metal to keep up with other teams.Steve
ODonnell, executive vice-president and chief racing development officer, said
cars will be brought back in if NASCAR sees the skirts have been manipulated
during a pit stop. Policing the flared skirts will be done by any means
possible, ODonnell said.Other topics covered Monday by France:— Sprint is not
likely to be replaced as title sponsor before its deal expires at the end of
next season. Sprint said last month it will not renew its contract with NASCAR,
but will honour the remainder of its deal. The last time NASCAR needed a new
sponsor, when R.J. Reynolds said in 2003 it wanted out of its deal that expired
at the end of 2007, the sanctioning body nabbed Nextel to take over in 2004.I
dont anticipate anybody being in a position to leave early, but well get out
into the marketplace and see, France said.— NASCAR would like to have the 2016
rules decided and delivered to teams earlier than ever, and is eyeing the
All-Star Race in May as a possible deadline. Teams received the 2015 rules last
September, and the 2014 rules were not set until last January.— France took a
moment to acknowledge Jeff Gordon, who said last week this 23rd season will be
his last as a full-time driver.Jeff is a friend of ours, a friend of mine
personally, and certainly I dont have to tell you what hes done for the sport,
France said. I dont have to tell you the amazing accomplishments on and off the
track. From everybody at NASCAR, (we) wish him a strong final season.France has
previously acknowledged that attention in NASCAR is increased when Gordon is a
part of the title race. The four-time champion is one of the very few drivers
who transcends NASCAR and is famous beyond the sports landscape. It will be
difficult to replace his star power, but France said its part of sports.The
changing of the guard, thats always part of sports, part of NASCAR, he said.
Thats what you count on, to have great farm system of aspiring talent, hopefully
of a diverse background, to let their talents and their abilities land with the
Sprint Cup Series.
Jetro Willems Jersey .C. -- Tony Stewart will not race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third Sprint Cup race hes
skipped since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr.
Jasper Cillessen Netherland Jersey . -- Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Saturday for the first time in his seven-year career because of a swollen muscle
in his left upper back.INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers will finally get a chance to
see what Andrew Bynum can do for them. More than a month after signing the free
agent centre, Bynum is expected to make his debut with Indiana on Tuesday night
against Boston. Earlier this week, coach Frank Vogel told reporters Bynum wasnt
likely to play until Friday. But with backup centre Ian Mahinmi hurting and the
Pacers in the midst of a season-worst four-game losing streak, Vogel changed the
plan and told reporters after Tuesdays shootaround that Bynum would play against
the Celtics.
Johannes Hendrikus Cruijff Netherland Jersey. The 7-foot Bynum averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 24 games with Cleveland
before being suspended indefinitely in December. He was eventually traded to the
Bulls and released. Indiana then signed the former All-Star on Feb. 1.
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