The Chase to the Nextel Cup. Fun? Thrilling? Some say so. Ad Nausem, is more like it for me. That's right; this whole thing has been a prime target for over-coverage. Chase, Chase, Chase! That's all we hear about! I'm betting that's all we will be hearing about for a long time. It's irritating! I get annoyed the more I hear about it; it's that repeated. Don't get me wrong, promotion is always good, but too much is torture, at least to me.

Okay, I'll be one to admit that even I gave it a shot in that inaugural season. Who didn't back then? And, like most people, I was skeptical at first. 'This is going to ruin the sport', we all said to ourselves. Boy, were we right, but it turned out to be not in the sense of point structuring like we thought. I don't even think I knew that over coverage would be the final result. Come on, am I the only one who's pointed this out?

But exactly why do I think all this extensive coverage makes the Chase so irritating? Because it's endless! Coverage, coverage, coverage! Everywhere you tur, no matter how many days it is between races; someone somewhere is talking about it. This reached a not-so-impressive peak last year; when Speed Channel practically clogged their weeknight schedule during this time with shows devoted solely to the Chase. How about that show 'The Chase is On'? Says it all doesn't it?

Maybe it's just me, but now that this whole thing is set, shouldn't we only have to hear about the points run until when it really matters; after the race has completed. I wouldn't mind this, and it would be enough; not some half hour show dedicated to the Chase that is not only unecessary, but boring. But really, how many of you out there in NASCAR Land actually admits to watching 'The Chase is On' every week?

Another thing I hate about the Chase is the lack of attention paid to others. Come on broadcast teams! Let's hear about the others; the non-Chasers who do a nice job on a selected weekend. With this lame excuse of a points system that is way over hyped, I guess no one cares about them.

Good lord! All these obvious points. No wonder I hate the Chase to the Nextel Cup so much!

hendrickfan04@yahoo.com