Four-Time Champion Jeff Gordon's Idea to Add Excitement to the Chase

This past week, the 12 drivers participating in the Chase for the Championship had a great time in New York City promoting their next 12 races for the Sprint Cup.  They delivered the "Top 12" list on the Letterman show, participated in other talk shows like Regis and Kelly, and did multiple media events.

One of the fan favorite events during the week is the fan interaction luncheon, this year at the Hard Rock Cafe.  50 fans had the unique opportunity to ask questions and dialogue directly with their favorite driver.

During that event and the other media tours, the drivers were asked several times what they would do to spice up the Chase.  One of the funniest moments occurred when four-time Champion Jeff Gordon decided to tackle that question.

"I think we should just vote someone off the island," said Gordon.  His idea was to have a Survivor-like contest each week, not just racing, but then also voting to send someone packing each week.

Gordon's idea certainly got this fan thinking about how that might just work.  Perhaps the winner of each race would get immunity from being voted out of the chase. 

Then, at the driver's meeting prior to the next race on the schedule, all Chase drivers would have to dip their torches into the Sunoco race fuel and sit before the Tribal Council comprised of the other 31 drivers in the series. 

Mike Helton would make a great Jeff Probst, keeping order and calling each Chase driver up to the cast their votes.  Each driver would cast their votes on their hero cards, writing out the driver they are voting out with their Sharpies.  The votes would then be placed into the Sprint Cup to be counted. 

Helton would soberly review the votes and then announce the "loser."  The driver voted off would then have to carefully extinguish his torch, pack up his driver gear, and leave the race track.

There may be other aspects of the competition, perhaps special qualifying competitions or even pit crew challenges prior to each race weekend.  Specially decorated lug nuts could be used as hidden immunity idols.  These could scattered throughout the race track and the drivers would be required to try to find them in order to be considered for future immunity.

Oh, the possibilities are endless in this version of Survivor:  NASCAR Chase for the Cup.  Perhaps we could even have a fan component, a la American Idol, and that way we too could have a say in who is voted out of the competition.

So, when you’re watching the upcoming version of Survivor: Gabon premiering in a few short weeks, make sure you’re taking notes for ideas for next year’s Chase.  I’m sure Jeff Gordon will be watching as well.  And let’s hope NASCAR will too!