NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup - the Old System or the New System

There are just three races left in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Here is a look at where your favorite driver in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup stands now.

1. Jimmie Johnson 6149
2. Denny Hamlin 6135 -14
3. Kevin Harvick 6111 -38
4. Jeff Gordon 5942 -207
5. Kyle Busch 5919 -230
6. Carl Edwards 5902 -247
7. Tony Stewart 5832 -317
8. Matt Kenseth 5825 -324
9. Kurt Busch 5799 -350
10. Jeff Burton 5797 -352
11. Greg Biffle 5788 -361
12. Clint Bowyer 5782 -367

Just for fun, take a look at what the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings would look like in the old format prior to the introduction of the Chase for the Championship.

1. Kevin Harvick 4804
2. Jimmie Johnson 4516 -288
3. Jeff Gordon 4435 -369
4. Denny Hamlin 4417 -387
5. Kyle Busch 4384 -420
6. Carl Edwards 4329 -475
7. Tony Stewart 4239 -565
8. Jeff Burton 4187 -617
9. Matt Kenseth 4171 -633
10. Kurt Busch 4116 -688
11. Clint Bowyer 4003 -801
12. Jamie McMurray 3976 -828

Statistically, in the old format, we would have a two car battle between Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson with Harvick in the lead by 288 points. With 180 point being awarded for a win, 5 points for a lap led and 5 additional points for leading the most laps, Jimmie Johnson would still have to run three perfect races to win the championship. Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon would virtually be out of the hunt. Everyone else would statistically be out of the running for a Sprint Cup Championship.

Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch would swap the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th points positions, while Greg Biffle would fall out of the top twelve, replaced by Jamie MacMurray.

In the current Chase format, we still have a six way battle with just 247 points separating 1^st through 6^th. If it's your favorite driver reaping the benefits from the old system, you might argue that the new system doesn't work. If you are a Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon or Denny Hamlin fan, you might argue that the new system works better. What can't be argued is that NASCAR's introduction of the Chase for the Championship format has tightened the battle up considerably and nobody can sit back and coast through the last few races. You either finish up front or you lose your chance at a championship.

The crews have their hands full as well. It's been said over and over again that a race can be won or lost on pit road. Jeff Gordon's crew leads the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award standings for the 2010 season. The #18 crew and the #29 crew have won the weekly award in the past month, while the #48 crew have not won the award once this season. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award credits the crew spending the shortest amount of time on pit road during each race and the title for the winning crew at the end of the season.

After Bowyer's win, Harvick's 2^nd and Hamlin's 7^th place finish in the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega, Jimmie Johnson has his hands full. The next three races will eliminate several drivers from championship contention. None of the top six drivers can afford to make any mistakes or get caught up in any on track incidents.

Carl Edwards won at Texas in 2008, while Kurt Busch won in 2009. Jimmie Johnson won Pheonix in both 2008 and 2009, while Carl Edwards took the season finale in 2008 and Denny Hamlin won it in 2009.

Earlier this season, Jimmie Johnson had a great run at Phoenix. He brought the #48 home in third and led the most laps. Denny Hamlin won the Texas race earlier this year, but Johnson had a great run as well finishing in 2^nd. Kevin Harvick also had a top ten finish. Though both Edwards and Gordon both got into some trouble at Texas in the spring, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch all had top tens at Phoenix in 2010.

It's still anybody's championship to lose. One thing is certain; NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship has forced every driver to race hard right down to the last checkered flag of the season.