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Fabrizio column: Gordon Likes Old System Better Than New Chase

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

MIAMI - When team owner Rick Hendrick mentioned during Thursday's championship contender's news conference at the Marriott Doral Golf Resort that he preferred NASCAR's old championship format to the Chase, Jeff Gordon leaned over and gave him a pat on the arm.

Gordon doesn't dislike the Chase, but he believes it has chances of equaling or surpassing the seven championships won by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr.

"The one issue that I have with the Chase is just that we still try to compare seven-time champions to what's going on now and there's no comparison," Gordon said earlier on the subject. "There's absolutely no way that you can compare past champions before the Chase to current champions, because if that was the case we'd have a couple more numbers up there ourselves."

Gordon won four championships under NASCAR's old format and has yet to win one in the Chase era, although he still has a shot in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead.

He finished third in the inaugural Chase in 2004, but had the points not been reset with 10 races remaining, he would have won the title by 47 points against Jimmie Johnson. He also would have won the title this year under the old format. Gordon outscored Johnson by 415 points through the first 26 races this year, but when the points were reset, Johnson had a 20-point lead because he had two more wins than Gordon.

"There's a lot of me that wishes the Chase never had come along, because I think that the way I drive, and the way our team is so consistent, that we're capable of getting more championships under the old system," Gordon said.

Hendrick said he prefers the old championship format in which points were not reset with 10 races to go because it is a truer indicator of who the best driver and team are.

"You look at the last 10 races and there is so much racing luck involved," he said.

KENSETH, REISER SPLIT: Matt Kenseth and his crew chief of the last 11 years, Robbie Reiser, will not be together in 2008.

Reiser on Thursday was named general manager of Roush-Fenway's Racing's Nextel Cup operations. He'll replace Max Jones, who is leaving to become co-owner and general manager of Yates Racing, the team Doug Yates is buying from his father, Robert.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my racing career," said Reiser, who'll keep his old job through Sunday's race. "If it's anywhere near as fun, competitive and successful as the previous phase, then we're going to be in good shape."

Reiser raced late models out of his native Wisconsin until moving to the Busch Series in 1995. He hired Kenseth in 1997, and the two moved to the Roush organization in 1999. They won the 2003 Winston Cup title together.

No announcement was made on Kenseth's crew chief.

FLORIDA LICENSE PLATE: Florida residents traveling to Homestead this weekend will be able to buy a new NASCAR-themed license plate that was approved by the Florida Cabinet in September.

The plates will be available at a mobile FLOW (Florida Licensing on Wheels) unit that will be stationed near Gate 11 at the track. Fans must prove they have a vehicle registered in Florida, a valid Florida driver's license and proof of insurance. Cost is $27.

Those interested in ordering one of the plates can go to www.hsmv.state.fl.us.

NO BAD BLOOD HERE: A Washington Post writer desperately looking for something edgy to write about the Gordon-Johnson championship battle asked each driver what annoys him about the other.

"Jimmie annoys the heck out of me because he wins all the time," Gordon said with a laugh. "I don't really have a lot to say on that front," Johnson offered.

Gordon offered a final kicker in response to the question. "By the way, we rode here together. I know that ruins your story even more."

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