It's hard to say who the best driver is anymore because of the rules change in NASCAR to go to the chase format. Here are the top drivers of the modern era with there total number of championships if the chase never came about, and the number of championships they would have had there been the chase always. Let me know what you think.

Tony Stewart is by far the best racer today. He has far better car control than anyone that I have seen. He is bound for greatness with the budget and equipment that JGR now has with Toyota. Tony Stewart is the most talented driver in this era. He will break the Championship record.

and you need to add that stewart would have won last year if not for the chase, even with 10 races left, being in 11th, he would have won by the old system, because of his wins and top 5's in last 10 races, he would have edged johnson by a meer 15 points.

Not so quick there go to this link. The only Driver that has lost a championship do to the new format is Gordon and it has happend twice. I copied it from this link http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nasca...es_N.htm?csp=34


2006

Chase winner: Jimmie Johnson; Old format: Jimmie Johnson

The two-time bridesmaid wins a nail-biter either way, but Stewart's three wins in the final 10 races vault him from 11th to fourth under the old system.

New format Old format

Top 10 Points Top 10 Points

1. Jimmie Johnson 6,475 1. Jimmie Johnson 5,158

2. Matt Kenseth 6,419 2. Matt Kenseth 5,154

3. Denny Hamlin 6,407 3. Kevin Harvick 4,838

4. Kevin Harvick 6,397 4. Tony Stewart 4,727

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,328 5. Denny Hamlin 4,725

6. Jeff Gordon 6,256 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4,641

7. Jeff Burton 6,228 7. Jeff Gordon 4,567

8. Kasey Kahne 6,183 8. Jeff Burton 4,535

9. Mark Martin 6,168 9. Kasey Kahne 4,497

10. Kyle Busch 6,027 10. Mark Martin 4,484