Reality vs. the "What If's" of NASCAR

"What if’s" come in many ways, shapes, and forms.

The most common "what if" is usually the one that will please the person who is trying to make their point.

A "what if" is usually something that is hypothetical, and is something that is based on ones own thinking...or, for a better way to put it—an opinion.

Growing up, we use a lot of "what if" scenarios to help us get through our busy days, whether at work or at home because they can sometimes help us dictate what our next plan of action will be.

In sports, "what if’s" play a major role—especially when your team or driver doesn’t perform well.

How many times have we used the "what if" scenario in NASCAR this season? Probably too many times to keep an accurate count.

"What if's" always make for a good debate, but when put next to the word reality, it changes the whole complex of the debate.

Because for one, reality is always fact based, and there is no deviating from what has already happened.

Jeff Gordon is a good example of a "what if" scenario. Had the chase never been instituted, he probably would have had championships five and six, but then reality kicks in, and he still only has four.

Our whole NASCAR season seems to be based off of "what if's), instead of simple and straight reality.

Now that the season is almost over, we are beginning to see more and more "what if" scenarios being discussed pertaining to some of the actions that have taken place.

But, in all reality, not even the drivers themselves have any idea how the season will play out until the last race at Homestead.

Thinking back to last season, I’m sure not that many fans expected Greg Biffle to win the first two chase races.

Greg really turned a lot of heads—as well as gave most of the fans a rude awakening—when he came out and drew first blood.

Most of the writers were working feverously to find every angle on Greg to make sure they didn’t miss anything that had to do with his NASCAR career.

But then, as soon as he crossed the finish line for those wins, he was overshadowed by Carl and Jimmie—who went on their crusade, and battled it out for the championship.

What if Greg could have won one more race, and Jimmie and Carl didn’t get greedy and win the last five races?

One of the biggest "what if's" of the 2008 season had to be Kyle Busch’s sudden rise to fame during the first 26 races of the season.

Kyle did everything imaginable to secure him a spot in the chase, and show NASCAR nation that he belonged racing next to the best that NASCAR had to offer.

He won at just about every type of track that NASCAR threw at him.

He even took it a step further and won both road course events.

Kyle was unbeatable during the first 26 races of the season, showing a rough and aggressive style of driving that had been missed for some years.

His fans were already comparing him to some of the greats—which was still premature, especially since he was only in his fourth year behind the wheel of a cup car.

But once the chase started, so did the "what if's".

What if Kyle didn’t have those mechanical problems that cost him a 34th, a DNF, and a 28th during the first three races after the chase had begun???

He still had a chance to redeem himself during the next seven races, but instead reality crept in...and the rest of his season ended on a sour note.

Sure, he was able to finish in the top 10, but only for the way he blew by the rest of his opponents before securing the top spot going into the chase.

This was hardly the outcome that the #18 team expected, especially after working so hard during the first 26 races.

This was also the lowest that any driver has ever finished while winning as many races that Kyle had won.

Reality, and "what if's", will continue play a huge role in the years to come.

Without our "what if" scenarios and opinions, how do we fans expect to keep our season interesting, as well as have the issues that we can debate?

NASCAR will always give us something to talk, or debate about week after week.

This is reality, and there are no "what if's" about it.