TBK-Light.com

I think this stat is worse:

A drive could win the first race of each "segment" and finish 43rd in the other 6 races, giving an average finishing position of 29.0 in the first 9 races. Then he could finish say 3rd at Homestead which may give the championship.

An average finish of 26.4 in the chase to win the championship, 10-4.

Lets be realistic though.. these are unlikely as hell to happen. Its almost as pointless as wearing a helmet and fireproof overalls on your daiy commute.

They are far-fetched but it's just another way of illustrating the system's fundamental flaws.

A better ending would be the final 4 finishing 40th, 41st, 42nd, and 43rd at Homestead, with the 40th place guy winning it all.

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Gael

I would actually love that ending to take place as all 4 of them are battling hard and end up wrecking out in one smoldering heap, then trying to drive the wrecked junks across the line to complete that one extra lap.

There is also a possibility the final 4 could be all 4 Hendrick drivers. One team is assured the title and top 4 spots. I don't think we'll see team orders though, esp after what happened with Bowyer's Richmond spin. I think NASCAR would literally ban someone if they fucked up their championship race.

If, by some unbelievalbe happening, the final four are all Hendrick guys, any team order would be worked out long before they got to the track.

The idiocy of this format isn't really fundamentally any different than the years when Rusty won 10 races, fully 1/3 of the races run, and yet did not win the Championship.

The true stupidity to any of this, be it the new points or the old, is the flawed idea that winning a race is the end all be all of the sport, when it was (and should be) consistency that won you titles.

This coming from a life long Terry Labonte fan.

Ambrose is leaving RPM after this year and going back to Australia.

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Gael

Good.

would be nice to see him V8s again

Wondering who would take over the 9? Hopefully a decent young talent.

Hornish.

This would be my first guess, as well.

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Ducks Angels Sounders Spurs

Ugh, no thanks.

Well, who else is available? Don't say Chase Elliot because no way JRM/Hendrick would just let him go to a team that has far more inferior resources than even RFR, let alone Penske or Hendrick.

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Ducks Angels Sounders Spurs

Gonna miss Ambrose but his time has come. Feel bad he couldn't get that oval win. Easily one of the best road races in cup history.

I've heard people mention Hornish, Ragan, and Corey LaJoie.

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Gael

I'd love for it to be LaJoie.

Corey Lajoie would be an ace pick. Little experience but has shown some serious potential....Sam Hornish has had enough chances to fuck up in Cup...be a fool to pick him. I guess that'd be a small upgrade for David Ragan, and could see that happening but that is a bit random.

I know David Ragan's a big Ford guy (has his own Ford dealership in Georgia) and I wouldn't be surprised if he got the nod to replace Ambrose at RPM.

Corey Lajoie would be an interesting choice. At least RPM isn't as top-tier as Penske or Roush yet I could see the King taking a shot with him. But I'd give him a year or two of seasoning in either the Nationwide (soon to be Xfinity) Series or Trucks.

I'll take a pass on Hornish. He's never really been that consistent in Cup.

Honestly, I'll really be shocked if they don't shutter the 9 team. There really isn't a lot of eye-catching options out there, at least those that'll bring in adequate sponsorship.

But if I had to throw out a different name than mentioned above, Elliott Sadler. IF they can convince him to leave JGR and bring OneMain with him, of course.