The All-Star Race Needs To Have More At Stake

As exciting and thrilling as the All-Star Race is, it could stand to put a lot more on the line than just money. Maybe it's time NASCAR took a page from Major League Baseball and made the All-Star race more about the post-season rather than the money?

Let's be honest one of the most difficult things to do is to sit down and watch a Major League Baseball game from start to finish; but you have to admit when it comes to the mid-summer classic Major League Baseball has it figured out.

With lessons learned from the infamous "tie" during the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Major League Baseball was able to turn the once meaningless All-Star Game into one of professional sport's most exciting and important events.

By giving the winning team/league home field advantage during the World Series Major League Baseball ensured that the All-Star Game would no longer be a disappointment to its fans and pointless to its participants.

What if NASCAR put that much on the line during its All-Star break? Think how awesome it would be if NASCAR were to grant the All-Star Race winning team an automatic spot in the Chase.

For example, if Clint Bowyer wins Saturday night's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway he would automatically qualify for the Chase regardless of his point's position after 26 races. If Bowyer were to qualify for the Chase despite the All-Star Race win, Richard Childress could then use the (insert catchy name here) free pass for the next highest RCR team outside the top 12.

Talk about taking the concept of "Team" to another level. Think about how crazy the last few laps would be if 5-10 drivers and teams battle it out for an automatic berth in the Chase rather than a big payout. Don't get me wrong the money is great, but put a spot in the Chase on the line and you have the most intense 50-70 laps in racing.

It's bold and it's radical, but it has the potential to be exciting and intense. And with ratings and attendance slumping, a radical change in the format might be just what the doctor ordered as the sport heads into its most critical stretch of the season leading up to the Chase.