Keselowski: Chase doesn’t have ‘playmaker moments’

Keselowski: Chase doesn’t have ‘playmaker moments’

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(October 14, 2011)

 

CONCORD, N.C.—The way Brad Keselowski sees it, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is fundamentally different from playoffs in other sports.

 

With 12 drivers competing independently for the same prize, the Chase is more about avoiding mistakes. Nor does the Chase afford the opportunity to make a sudden strike or score to change the landscape, given that so many variables are interdependent.

 

“The interesting thing about the Chase is that you’re not rewarded so much for good days as you are punished for bad days,” Keselowski said Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It’s very strange like that. There’s no playmaker moments like you see in college football, you know, a guy has an 80-yard break through the center of the line for a running touchdown.

 

“You don’t have that in our deal, so you find yourself the whole time (saying) ‘Don’t screw this up. I hope I have a fast car.’ That’s like the spirit of the Chase for us, so it’s very much a don’t-screw-up mentality throughout the garage for everybody, but especially the Chase drivers—and then just have a fast car and do everything right.”

 

Keselowski hasn’t done much wrong since the midpoint of the season. He rallied with three victories to qualify for the Chase and is fourth in the standings through four races, 11 points behind leader Carl Edwards.