Traditionalists to remain mad

France ‘thrilled’ with Chase format that raised ‘level of competition’ would win.

The night belonged to Kyle Busch, a guy who began the season in a hospital after he was injured in an Xfinity Series crash. Busch would have never stood a chance under the old format.

Under this one, he came back to win four races in the regular season, and then the Chase finale. A deserving champion, no doubt. There was chaos. There was controversy. There was competition. What’s not to like? “Drivers and teams are doing, trying things, being aggressive, and achieving things they never thought possible,” France said. “Kevin Harvick told me that last year at the awards ceremony in Las Vegas. He said one of the neat things is, ‘I didn’t know we could be this good. I didn’t know we could — when we had to win — because there’s a little thing in auto racing that you say, “Well, everything’s out of my control and there’s 42 other teams out there.” ’ And it doesn’t work that way. Well, it turns out, it can work that way.” It worked out just fine. I understand NASCAR isn’t a traditional ball-and-stick sport, and everything doesn’t translate when applying the rules of engagement. But NASCAR’s Chase formula puts a premium on winning as well as consistency.

And just like football and baseball and basketball, the team with the best record does not always win. That doesn’t mean they are less deserving.

Kyle Busch is a deserving champion.

“I was talking to (NASCAR president) Mike Helton the other day. I said this might be the best thing we could have done for the quality of racing that we have ever done,” France said. “And he said, ‘I think you’re right.’ ”

A moment of silence for NASCAR traditionalists.

gdiaz@tribpub.com