8-4-1 Title Chase Details

[lepage71]

The 8-4-1 Title Chase is a new championship in the three major league series (applicable to Cup, Busch, and Trucks).

For the first time in years, we have a true playoff competition, with many potential contenders. As I mentioned earlier, we planned on posting the details, prior to publishing them on the league rules page. So feel free to add comments or feedback. Here's how it works:

The 8-4-1 Title Chase is an alternate series championship. The Overall Standings, our long-running title format, will remain in its current form. In effect, the 8-4-1 Title Chase acts like a secondary battle that happens simultaneously with the Overall Standings. We could even get two different champions or co-champions per series. Both championships will run at the same time and are based on the same race results. However, the 8-4-1 Title Chase will likely be more volatile than what we usually see in the Overall Standings. The reason is simple. Like ARL, or the Cup Series on TV, it follows a playoff elimination format, with the championship determined by the final race on the schedule.

That's right, it all comes down to the series finale, meaning drama. Also, the 8-4-1 Title Chase won't have drops like the Overall Standings.

The 8-4-1 Title Chase gets its name from its 12-event structure. We have 8 regular season races and 4 elimination round races. The majority of the roster will therefore be in contention for the title through the majority of the schedule. The first cut-off - to create "The Elite Eight" - occurs after race 8. You must either have won (*) or otherwise be in the top-8 to advance. We then reset the points among the contenders. The second cut-off - to form "The Final Four" - happens after race 11. You've got it: in this 3-race round, the winners or otherwise top-4 advance. Finally, we arrive at race 12, which as should be obvious, serves as the ultimate final-round shootout...for everything!

Note (*): although we don't expect it to be a regular occurrence, it's possible to qualify for The Elite Eight by winning a race and not being in the top-8 in the standings. Our initial thinking is that you must be scored for a minimum of four series races to indeed qualify.

Let us know if you have any questions. Going forward, we could make a tweak or two. If so, then we'll share it here.

[d3efan]

I like it!

[viagra6car]

Ha. I bet you do.

[lepage71]

Overall, I think the format worked well in our first 8-4-1 Title Chase. We had a great final four races and series finale in the Truck Series.

The 8-4-1 Title Chase will likely be more volatile than what we usually see in the Overall Standings. The reason is simple. Like ARL, or the Cup Series on TV, it follows a playoff elimination format, with the championship determined by the final race on the schedule.

That's right, it all comes down to the series finale, meaning drama.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the second 8-4-1 Title Chase unfolds in the Cup Series.