In 2004, NASCAR decided to change the point system structure to determine the series champion of its biggest series now known as the Sprint Cup series. The timing coincides with the commencement of the NFL season which has consistently beaten them in the ratings for the prized 18 to 34 demographic. If they would have left it alone we would not have a five-time defending champion in Jimmie Johnson, we would have a new champion in Kevin Harvick. With the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, NASCAR has generated a five-time champion which is fantastic but some of the current drivers are missing out on career defining moments that could cement their legacies for the future voters. Here is a look back at who the Sprint Cup champions would be if NASCAR had not touched the points system.

In 2004, Kurt Busch won the championship under the new points system beating out Jimmie Johnson by 8 points and Jeff Gordon by 16. You take the old point system and you have Jeff Gordon winning his fifth championship by 47 over Jimmie Johnson.

In 2005, Tony Stewart is the champion using both point systems. This is the first time in the chase that the champion would have been already decided before the running of the final race of the season. The only big difference is Carl Edwards would have finished fifth instead of tied for second.

In 2006, we would have had the closest finish in NASCAR history with the old points system Jimmie Johnson would have beat Matt Kenseth for his first title by only 4 points. Both drivers finished in the Top 10 in the final race of the season and with only one spot to spare to winning a championship who knows how the race could have turned out. Instead, the Chase standings had three other drivers besides Jimmie Johnson that had a chance going in to the final race Matt Kenseth finished sixth, Kevin Harvick finished fifth, and Denny Hamlin finished third knew that if Johnson finished in the Top 20 that day he had the title won so in the closing laps he was sitting ninth, which is where he finished. Since that would seal the deal there was no need to push the envelope.

In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won his second straight cup championship. Jeff Gordon would have clinched his sixth Sprint Cup championship by the having the most points scored since 1973.

In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won his third straight Cup title using the Chase System, using the old system we have the fifth closest championship race in NASCAR history with Carl Edwards beating Jimmie Johnson by 16 and winning it in the last race of the season.

In 2009 Jimmie Johnson won his fourth straight Cup Championship, and would have won his second Cup championship with the old system.

This year Jimmie Johnson won his fifth Cup championship by 39 points over Denny Hamlin but he would have finished second behind the first time Cup Champion Kevin Harvick.

The  Chase system produced a five time champion, and one first time champion and the old system would have produced Jeff Gordon driving for his record tying seventh championship, and produced three other first time champions. The question to be asked is would ratings be down on a sport that has produced multiple champions? The ratings are down on a five time champion that many think has found success on the ten tracks of the Chase.

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