Jimmie Johnson says NASCAR's new championship format has ''seemed bizarre,'' but the eliminated six-time champion knows he has to think about the big picture for racing. Four-time race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. also can't win the title after the first two championship rounds cut the field to eight drivers. I made that conscious decision when Brian France called me and told me where things were going for this year.'' Among the eight drivers still in contention are Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth, neither of whom has won a race this season. ''I understand that from an economic standpoint (that) tracks, NASCAR, the race teams for sure, are in a bind and we are in a tough situation,'' Johnson said. More...