The problem that most drivers are facing this season isn’t the format of the Chase or even the fact that Jimmie Johnson has made the chase, again. The problem is fuel mileage the problem is you can run strong all day and then your fate is decided by fuel mileage.
Instead of finishing top 10 you end up 20th or worse and your title hopes take a hit before you even see the first checkered flag of the Chase.
For numerous drivers on Monday at Chicagoland Speedway their fates were decided by fuel. It wasn’t like the top 15 weren’t conserving in fact Jeff Gordon was conserving from the beginning of the final run.
He along with others like Johnson, Kyle Busch and even the leaders conserved for much of the final run only to run out coming around for the checkered flag.
Is this how we want the title decided? Could any of these drivers came in to top off like some did? Yes, but the other factor is track position. It’s the other factor in this Chase that could decide a champion.
If you are running top five are you going to give that up to come in and top just incase the race could be decided by fuel mileage?
Matt Kenseth was penalized a lap for being pushed to the checkered flag went from eighth place finish to first car one lap down.
The frustration around fuel mileage is growing as more often this season it has decided the finish and drivers know there is not much they can do.
"I don't know what to do about the fuel mileage," said Kenseth, now 10th in points and 24 behind Harvick, before he was aware of the penalty. "It is really frustrating to be a race car driver, and they drop the green on the last run of the day when you are supposed to put on a show for the fans, and you have to run half-throttle and can't floor it or you will run out of gas. It is pretty aggravating to do all the work, and qualifying and pit stops and adjustments, but none of it makes a difference."
Kenseth makes a valid point there wasn’t any real passing going on in the final run. Everyone was trying to conserve as much as they could.
Some drivers threw caution to the wind and drove hard and it paid off for Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who finished second and third.
Fans don’t want to see drivers running half throttle or turning their engines on and off under green.
That’s not good racing; that’s points racing and we know these drivers don’t want to do that.
What made the regular season so exciting and refreshing was for the first time in a long time nobody was really points racing. They were driving hard every lap for the win.
It’s a tough balance for these drivers especially for those with the championship on the line. Do you run hard and go for broke early on or do you play it safe.
Even though many of them were playing it safe the saving didn’t matter and many drivers came up dry.
Fuel mileage is a factor and always been a factor in racing but now with speeds so close and the competition as close as it is; it could and will factor into this championship.
It’s a gamble for drivers and crew chiefs have been factoring into every race this season. With only nine to go and every point is important, running dry again ends your chance for a title.
It’s a concern every crew chief has and imagines coming into Homestead the series leader and being one lap short of fuel and costing you the title.
It is a very distinct possibility for every one of these drivers. For guys like Busch, Gordon and Kenseth who took the biggest hit in the points they have to play conservative from here on out when it comes to fuel.
They can ill afford another 20th or worse in the final nine races if they want to be a factor for this title
Do drivers come in every opportunity and top off and risk there much needed track position or do they gamble like they did yesterday and hope they cross the line with more than fumes?
The answer isn’t easy but if Monday’s race at Chicagoland was any indication fuel is the biggest “X” factor.
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