http://assets.espn.go.com/i/tvlistings/tv_espn_original.gif en-us 10 ESPN Inc. http://espn.go.com/ Copyright 2010 ESPN Inc. Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet was dented in the left side door panel Sunday when a parachute jumper hit the car on pit road as the jumper was about to touch down two hours before the Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.]]> November 04, 2012 08:02:05 PST NASCAR chairman Brian France said Sunday that changes NASCAR made for this season -- a simplified points system, adding two wild-card Chase spots and a new qualifying procedure -- have paid off and improved the on-track product.]]> October 09, 2011 06:39:25 PDT This ain't your daddy's Chase, NASCAR Nation. Under the league's new points system, parity rules in the 2011 Sprint Cup playoff, with the top nine drivers separated by only 19 points.]]> October 01, 2011 11:47:33 PDT The NHRA Countdown or NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup? Which playoff format is better? If you're 2009 Funny Car champ Robert Hight, it's a no-brainer.]]> August 06, 2011 10:41:08 PDT Week after week, the Sprint Cup Series marches closer to the start of the Chase. As New Hampshire looms, these are tense times for winless drivers such as Ryan Newman.]]> July 16, 2011 07:50:40 PDT The best Chase race ever at Texas Motor Speedway? With the three front-runners separated by 38 points, it's bound to happen Sunday in the AAA Texas 500.]]> November 03, 2010 04:26:19 PDT Here are four stats that may or may not surprise you, along with a note about the Chase after two races: 1) Bobby Labonte has the fewest points of th...]]> September 28, 2010 04:18:09 PDT LOUDON, N.H. -- Giving the Chase drivers their own points race (first through 12th) wouldn't work. It sounds good, but when you do the math, it does...]]> September 18, 2010 07:12:38 PDT There likely will be only one driver racing for points at Richmond on Saturday (hello, Clint Bowyer), but that may be a good thing. The race to the Chase may not thrill, but the race at Richmond could be a barn burner.]]> September 07, 2010 16:47:00 PDT Jimmie Johnson just isn't cooperating in this Chase. NASCAR would like to see the title fight stretch to the Homestead finale. JJ is looking like he'll lock it up by Phoenix.]]> October 27, 2009 05:23:18 PDT AP Photo/Gerry Broome There's one constant in this smorgasbord of a Cup season: Jimmie Johnson is still the man to beat. At first glance, the h...]]> October 17, 2009 13:01:47 PDT NASCAR is halfway to the Chase, but don't expect many changes among the playoff 12 in the second half of the regular season. Since the Chase went to ...]]> June 05, 2009 06:38:00 PDT Carl Edwards has cut Jimmie Johnson's Chase lead almost in half the past two races. The Sprint Cup title is still JJ's to lose, but at least Edwards is making things interesting, writes Terry Blount.]]> November 04, 2008 03:43:18 PST If you were waiting for Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team to slip up in the Chase, you got it at Texas. Problem is for the points leader's pursuers, he still salvaged a 15th-place finish, writes Terry Blount.]]> November 02, 2008 14:14:56 PST The Chase was supposed to add a little playoff buzz during NASCAR's stretch run to Homestead-Miami. Someone forget to tell that to Jimmie Johnson, writes Terry Blount.]]> October 20, 2008 10:27:54 PDT