How the Chase works

What to know about the Chase for the Nextel Cup

August 16, 2007
11:13 AM EDT

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At the end of the racing season, it's all about the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup -- the "playoffs," if you will -- in stock-car racing's elite division.

The Chase, however, is a recent phenomenon, but to understand how it works and what to follow, here are five frequently asked questions about the final 10 races.

Did you know?

Chase era Cup champions

Year	Driver	Runner-up

2004	Ku. Busch	J. Johnson
2005	T. Stewart	G. Biffle
2006	J. Johnson	M. Kenseth

Q: What is the Chase?

A: The Chase is the method of determining the Nextel Cup champion.

Twelve drivers qualify for NASCAR's postseason -- the top 12 drivers in the driver championship points standings after 26 races -- and they are seeded according to the number of victories they collect in those first 26 races. In the final 10 races of the season, they accumulate points toward the championship. The driver with the most points at the end of those 10 races is crowned champion.

Q: What's different about the Chase in 2007?

A: The Chase was expanded from 10 drivers to 12 this season. In addition, NASCAR dropped the rule that allowed drivers below the top 10 who stood within 400 points of the leader after 26 races also to qualify for the Chase. In the first three years of the Chase, that rule never came into effect. One of the major differences this year is the emphasis on wins and how it affects the seeding of the drivers for the final 10 races.

Q: How does that work exactly?

A: Each driver who qualifies for the Chase starts with a base of 5,000 points. To that total, add 10 points for each race victory in the first 26 events.

Q: What happens to drivers who don't make the Chase?

A: They continue to race each weekend, though they're not eligible for the championship. Drivers not in the Chase are still competing for race wins and portions of the prize fund commensurate with their final standing in the points.

Q: Are the final 10 races different from the first 26?

A: Only in the sense that there's a two-tiered competition going on -- one for the championship and another for the victory and position in the driver standings. On the surface, the races don't appear different -- 43 cars start each event in the Chase, and all are competing for the win, though only 12 drivers are eligible for the championship.