Track Smack: Get Amp'd; the Chase really is on TV (cont'd)

3. The TV ratings for Loudon were very low. Is there any particular reason why?

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- football, which will always rule the fall in this country.

Duane Cross: I don't want to hear anyone say, "Because Junior isn't in the Chase." It's not like he's not on the track. He's still racing for wins.

David Caraviello: Well, that track doesn't necessarily make for the most dramatic racing. Dale Jr. isn't in the Chase (sorry, Duane). And yes, as Dave points out, you've now run headlong into the juggernaut that is the NFL.

Dave Rodman: If you have one sucky race -- and I'm not saying Loudon was it, because I thought Clint's dismemberment of the field was rather fascinating -- versus a dozen or more football games, the odds are there's way more intrigue available flipping the channels there.

Duane Cross: Last weekend was a tremendous sports weekend and combined with Loudon not being a "sexy" track, the fact is fans went elsewhere besides ESPN on ABC -- which in itself may have confused a couple of folks.

Dave Rodman: And I bet that football fans are more enthused about watching their team, say, decimate the Chargers than anyone would be watching someone dominate a race, anywhere -- not just Loudon.

David Caraviello: This is where the Chase is supposed to earn its paycheck. The whole thing was cooked up to make NASCAR more competitive with the NFL in terms of TV ratings.

Dave Rodman: Well, if that's truly the case -- does anyone else think completely dynamiting the schedule would be the thing to do in the interest of better ratings?

David Caraviello: At some point, it seems, they're going to need a wholesale revision of the thing.

Duane Cross: A 2.8 on network TV is horrible -- no matter how anyone wants to spin it. I'd bet Bret Michaels' Rock of Love did better numbers on VH1. If the numbers don't spike, spicing up the final 10 races should become a priority.

Dave Rodman: If you stack NHIS-Dover-Kansas up against Sonoma-Bristol-Talladega, as Tony Stewart has recently become fond of saying, I don't think you'd have to be a rocket scientist to figure out which package would win.

Duane Cross: Bingo!

David Caraviello: No question. The 10 races that comprise the Chase are kind of lucky that they were in that position prior to the Chase being founded. Because all NASCAR really did was lop them off and say, "You have a playoff!"

Duane Cross: And if Kentucky gets its hands on NHIS, don't think that there won't be talks surrounding giving Kentucky a Chase date in exchange for dropping the lawsuit vs. NASCAR.

Dave Rodman: I don't see either one of those happening -- either a sale to Carroll's group or the suit being dropped under any circumstance.

David Caraviello: Woo-hoo. Cincinnati in October -- what fun!

Duane Cross: Nah, it'd be one of the early races. And hey, Sparta is hopping when the sun goes down!

David Caraviello: Let's not make it seem like we're piling on the folks at NHIS, who do a great job selling that place out race after race. But I think we're in agreement the final 10 needs a shakeup.

Dave Rodman: Definitely not -- NHIS has earned its place. But if gate numbers and TV ratings are off -- stage is set for a major revamp. But as I said before, football is king, that ain't changing in the next five lifetimes, so no idea what you could really do to contend with that.

Duane Cross: Change the point system -- which remains the root of the problem -- and nix the Chase! Motor racing isn't stick-and-ball, so why play their game just for the sake of having a "playoff?" OK, I'll get off my soapbox and return to regular programming ...

Dave Rodman: They still need to do something stronger for race wins. The bonus point situation in the "regular season" was a decent start.

David Caraviello: How about this: A 36-race Chase! Driver with the most points at the end wins? How revolutionary!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.