Gluck: Chase for the Sprint Cup drama about to ramp up

CONCORD, N.C. — In case you didn’t notice, the first round of the elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup, now in its third season, was uneventful compared to the first two editions.

There was no close points battle, no tempers flared or punches thrown, no major upset with a top team getting eliminated early. That generated conversation this year’s Chase wasn’t as exciting as in the past.

So far, that’s true. But that talk completely overlooks an obvious fact: As the Chase progresses, it’s guaranteed to have more drama. It’s designed that way. The first round, which reduces the field from 16 drivers to 12, was never meant to be the thrilling one; it was just an appetizer.

In fact, the drama should start with the second round, beginning with Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The urgency and intensity has picked up.

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“The first round, Todd (Gordon, crew chief) has preached to me and to the whole team: ‘Base hits,’” Joey Logano said Tuesday at a media luncheon. "… As the Chase goes on, base hits don't do it anymore. Then you've got to be hitting some triples and home runs.”

As Logano noted, none of the four drivers who were eliminated last week — Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Chris Buescher — were among the fastest cars this season. All of the fastest cars are still in the top 12, which emphasizes the need for perfection.

“You have to go out there and perform,” Logano said. “You have to be 100%. You can’t make a mistake. The pressure is going to ratchet up for that reason.”

That’s the nature of the format, particularly when Talladega Superspeedway looms as the elimination race of this round. Desperation and urgency have turned into frustration in Round 2 before; just think of Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin vs. Matt Kenseth at Charlotte, Kenseth vs. Logano at Kansas Speedway, Kevin Harvick vs. the field and the caution flag at Talladega.

Talladega and the prospect of going there without having clinched a win hangs over Round 2 like a full moon — it makes people act crazy.

“Somebody you think is going to be in the final four most likely is going to get knocked out in this round, because of the unknown of that third race,” Logano said.

Gluck: Drivers put point on reward for regular-season success

Prior to the first round, most drivers agreed they didn’t have to win — or even come close — to make it to the top 12. All they had to do was be relatively consistent and avoid mistakes.

Base hits.

But that’s all changed now, and it will only increase over the next seven weeks. Now drivers feel they need to win.

“You can control a lot more of your destiny if you’re winning races in a round,” Harvick, who will start on the pole at Charlotte said. “Points racing just leaves you very vulnerable to being eliminated. If you have the opportunity to win, you have to try and push and make that happen.”

So if you haven’t been satisfied with the Chase so far, just chill for a minute.

The tension is about to rise. The pushing is about to begin.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck