NASCAR's long 10 month season finally crept to a halt last Sunday in Miami. Jimmie Johnson won his third championship in as many years. Johnson joined Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers in NASCAR's almost 60 year history to accomplish this feat. NASCAR has been using a convoluted points system for the last five years. They take the top 12 drivers in points after the first 26 race regular season. Then they have a short 10 race 'Chase' to determine the season champion. Johnson's team, led by crew chief, Chad Knaus has gamed this system. They use the first 26 races to gather information and gear up for the 10 race shoot out. All they have to do then is dominate over a ten race stretch. On the other hand, Yarborough had to race hard for the entire 30 race schedule back in the mid-70s to garner his three-peat. Carl Edwards, with nine wins, was second in points, and regular season terror, Kyle Busch with eight wins was 10th in points. Both had more wins than Johnson's seven. Greg Biffle was third in points with two wins. Jeff Burton was the only other driver in the 12 driver Chase with more than one win. He had two. The Chase is NASCAR's version of a playoff system, yet 5 of the 12 Chase drivers had zero wins as the Chase began. Biffle won two, and Tony Stewart won one during the Chase, so only three playoff drivers finished the season with no wins. Am I missing something? Does any other 'major' sport start its playoffs with almost half the participants winless? If the Chase is here to stay---and, sadly it looks like it is---changes must be made. At the very least a team should have to win a race during the first 26 races to qualify for the Chase. More points for winning and leading laps would also lead to more interesting championship battles.