As i recall it used to be a one race Countdown. The top fuel cars, funny cars etc from all the divisions raced at the World Finals. The winner of the race was the champion. So this is not the first time HNRA changed things. How bad would the people whine if all eight went into one race to crown the chanpion.
Mike
Mike, You Had To Be Top Three, (I think) to Go to The World Finals....
The Key was, Fuel Cars at Points Meets... and the Finals Floated from Track to Track....
It was a one Race deal between Division Leaders... That I understood and would support today.... and yeah, you had to run Divisional events and earn points all year... and Indy was double points... in 69, John and Chops should have gone.... as it was, with John's passing, and the points being driver only...
Mid 70's, "Pro Classes" no longer had to go to Div. races, and the "Winston" style points system came about.... and it worked, and the "World Finals" just became the final race of the year...
My point is, Early on, there was a reason for a one race Play-off....
Starting in the mid-70's, there wasn't anymore... the whole season became the play-offs....
If we continue The Countdown next year (I'm Sure they will) starting at Indy next year, only the top eight should be allowed to run.... no none players, period.... (well, maybe their own ladder... not ever racing the play off cars)
but, that's me... which brings me to this.... Who cares????? I'm not for the chase or what ever it's called... not against it, just not the way I would have done it... what I don't like is the hype...
and this is coming from someone who couldn't tell you who won the superbowl, the world series, nor what the NBA calls their thing for the last 30 plus years....
Heck, I can't tell you who P/S championships between G/A and the W/J, BG years.... but I don't follow Gas Classes....