My two cents

There's lots of attention on this season's Chase for the Sprint Cup with it set to start next week at New Hampshire.

What we haven't heard a lot about lately is next season's Chase and the "tweaks" NASCAR has said it was considering to alter the format.

That's a good thing.

The best thing NASCAR can do for the Chase right now (besides eliminate it, in my opinion) is change it yet again.

The more changes, the more "tweaks," the more expansion and retraction of the Chase field that is incorporated with new rules to create more drama, the more the Chase becomes just that: artificial drama.

NASCAR Chairman Brian France has talked about trying to create "Game Seven" moments, like in a World Series. The point forgotten, however, is every World Series doesn't go seven games. And the reason those series that do go seven games are remembered the most is because they don't happen very often.

Although NASCAR said it may not make any changes, it is becoming increasingly clear the Chase is headed into some sort of elimination format, where the original field of drivers is expanded but two to three times in the final 10 races a certain number of drivers are eliminated from contention.

I hardly see the point of expanding the field only to kick those same people out a few races later. Since the Chase started in 2004, no driver seeded worse than third when it started has won it. That means for all the "drama" around the drivers who squeak into the Chase, little is heard from them after it starts.

And any "winner takes all" format where two or more drivers are left battling for the title in the season's final race at Homestead, Fla., does little to recognize the winner for a great season of competition.

It will, however, certainly make that driver the champion of Homestead. Unfortunately, the Cup series only visits there once a season.

So what, exactly, have you won?

Notes

Ekstrom's NASCAR return

Red Bull driver Mattias Ekstrom gets another opportunity in NASCAR this weekend when he will drive the No. 83 Toyota in Saturday night's race at Richmond.

In June, Ekstrom gave an impressive performance at Infineon Raceway in his first NASCAR race, leading seven laps and finishing 21st. Since then, he has tested with the team at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia and North Wilkesboro Speedway.

"Mattias did a great job in Sonoma, and continues to impress at the oval track testing sessions," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing vice president and general manager. "He has earned this opportunity, showing continued improvement every time he is behind the wheel."

The Swedish driver competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series for Audi and is a two-time DTM champion.

Driver suspended

Jack Smith, a driver in NASCAR's Truck Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR after his arrest July 23 in Missouri.

According to media reports, Smith was charged with three felony counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance in Wentzville, Mo.

Crew chief penalized

Wesley Gonder, crew chief of the No. 26 Nationwide Series team, was fined $5,000 by NASCAR this week after his car was found to have carburetor venturies exceeding the specified size during opening-day inspection at Atlanta.