Texas Motor Speedway (right) President Eddie Gossage on the expansion of the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup field from 10 to 12 drivers: “Will it help us at the gate? Time will only tell, but if No. 11 and No. 12 are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon — or in last year’s case two-time series champ Tony Stewart — obviously the answer is a definite ‘yes.’ This is a good move by NASCAR for the speedways hosting the 10 races in the Chase, and we are pleased to be part of that group with the Dickies 500 as the eighth Chase race.

Long term, NASCAR has to make sure that they don’t go too far and water down the playoff field like we have seen in other sports. Water cooler talk — even the debate over whether this is good or not — is important to the sport.”

[TMS]

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