Why Jeff Gordon is a fan of NASCAR reviving the Chase – even though he has plenty of reasons not to be

Jeff Gordon did indeed tell NASCAR he liked where they landed with the reintroduction of The Chase format, even though it worked against him as a driver. And he remains absolutely adamant that it did.

Actually, the way in which Gordon expressed it to NASCAR when Cup Series teams were informed of the change earlier this month was that he was “someone who was screwed by The Chase multiple times.” Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications, shared the tidbit on the first Hauler Talk podcast episode of the year. Forde, however, did joke that he wasn’t sure if Gordon would want him revealing that.

“I did say it, and it’s true,” laughed Gordon when asked by RACER. “Not only did I say it, but it’s true that I got my (butt) kicked by that format.”

NASCAR adopted the 10-race Chase system in 2004, when the sport moved to a postseason format for the first time. The original format was the final 10 races featuring the top 10 drivers in the Cup Series championship standings. 

Gordon never won a championship under the format.

“I remember when it was announced, and of course, I’m coming off of winning a fourth championship just a couple of years before that and loving the format being 36 races,” Gordon said. “So, it was all new to me, and it was a personal thing where I didn’t know that those 10 races, when they announced it, were my best. As it turned out, they weren’t. 

“But I still loved what it did for the excitement of the sport.”

A driver who excelled in the format was Jimmie Johnson, a protege of Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson won five straight championships in the Chase era and, in 2007 in particular, did so at Gordon's expense.

Gordon led the point standings for 21 of the first 26 weeks and then six of the first eight weeks of the postseason. But two top-five finishes in the first three races of The Chase and then back-to-back wins at Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway were not enough to hold off Johnson, who went on a tear by winning four straight races in the final five weeks.

Gordon finished second in the chase for the championship in 2007 despite a series-leading 7.3 average finish for the totality of the season. (He was the only driver in single digits in the category.) He finished third in the championship under the format in both 2004 and 2009. 

The Chase was used from 2004 through 2013 before the elimination format was introduced. The newest version of The Chase, implemented this season, will feature the final 10 races with the top 16 drivers in the standings.

“I think this is the best compromise,” Gordon said. “The knockout and going down to a single event is exciting, it brings a lot of drama, but is that really the best way to crown the champion? I think in motorsports, we’re different than other sports, and I think having a 10-race shootout is the way to do it.”