When NASCAR chairman Brian France revealed the changes to the championship format, he vowed that winning would be the most important element and would ultimately reward ''the most worthy, battle-tested'' driver with the Sprint Cup title. Yet here we are in late October and Sunday's race winner at Martinsville Speedway won't win the championship. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a four-time race winner this season, was eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship last week. It means there's a very real possibility that Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth, two drivers who have yet to win a race this season, will be eligible to race for the championship at Homestead. More...