OK now we know which four. Now who's going to be Champion?

[Matt Albee]

I'm certainly no expert in economics, but wouldn't less disposable income to buy tickets translate into far larger tv audiences who couldn't afford to buy tickets?
Dark horse pick for the win in Homestead, Hamlin.

[Bobby Diehl]

Hamlin a dark horse?

Matt didn't Denny set on the poll for the last race. Come back from a flat tire early and fight to come back to the lead lap twice. Then fight to get a finish that gives him a chance for his first Championship (remember he was pickup by JGR from Short Track racing). I don't know who to call a dark horse. Matt who do the four that remain remind you of that you have seen Short Track racing in Florida and why?

[OldSchool+]

How about this one:

Hamlin = Garrity

They are both "thinking" drivers and cool under fire.

Harvick = Wayne Jefferson--who "pushed" someone last weekend(!).

Actually, no offense to Wayne, I would put him up against Harvick in equal equipment!

[bullwhinkle]

No Wins

I want to see a "non Chaser" win the race, and Ryan Newman to finish second. He will win the Championship without winning a race.

Nascar keeps changing the points system, and this last change was supposed to "put and emphasis on winning". I think it would be incredibly ironic if the champion had no wins.

[Roadtrip]

Throw out the damn points. He who wins most is Champ. If you end up with a tie between 2 or 3 drivers, have a 25 lap shootout with just those drivers.
Points? We don't need no stinkin' points!

[andre]

He who wins most is Champ.

Agree 100%. 2nd sucks.

Why putting a system in place that is based on winning and have non winners part of it?????

But I will give them the fact that that system has created some drama that has put viewers back in front of TV and some butts in the empty seats.

Are we back to the glory days? No, and probably never will either. The world, the people, the habit, etc., change too much, but it's a tad better.

[OldSchool+]

"...it's a tad better." --Andre

Agreed. And the rules is what the rules is.

When Petty won they ran many more races than in the "modern" era.

Pre Chase it took consistency and then some. That wasn't easy and that is what Ryan has also accomplished.

The Chase racheted up the "winning" part, and Tony & Brad showed them how to do that.

This year, imo, has been the toughest yet, and, of the four, if it is the guy that has won the most this year or Newman with none at all, they freaking earned it.

The rules is the rules. You can run Volusia instead of Showtime. You can run ARCA instead of NASCAR.

They chose to run NASCAR, and by the rules. The winner will be THE WINNER, imo.

[Matt Albee]

You guys should have listened to me, Harvick for the win!
It wasn't the ultra close championship that 2011 was, but a pretty good last 50 laps. The flagman has to be in the emergency room getting treatment for severe arm strain with all those phony cautions.