This is exactly the kind of regular season finale-NASCAR was hoping for when they went to this playoff system a few years ago. That it ends at the wild card that is Daytona, only makes it better.

New ideas don’t always work out the first time. NASCAR has tried some new ideas this year; and was roundly praised for doing so.  I don’t think you’re going to see them quit on any of them, despite the mixed bag of success we’ve seen.

Is Chase Elliott currently NASCAR’s best road course racer?  Probably.  In fact, he may turn out to the best road course racer of his generation.

I doubt we’re going to get one of these two week breaks every year going forward, but I have to be honest; it’s been pretty nice.  For a sport whose season runs from early-February to mid-November, a change in the routine has been refreshing.