Drama doesn’t appear to be on the docket this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In a perfect world, the points championships in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks series were to be decided this weekend. But Ron Hornaday Jr. steamrolled the competition en route to clinching his fourth trucks title last Friday at Phoenix. A day later, Carl Edwards won the Nationwide Series race to postpone Kyle Busch’s celebration until this Saturday. But once Busch starts the Ford 300, the points title—his first in the series—officially will be his.

So that leaves only the Sprint Cup title—with Jimmie Johnson leading teammate Mark Martin by 108 points going into the finale.

As a result, some are asking the question: is it time for NASCAR’s other national touring series to adopt the Chase format?

I can wholeheartedly say: Absolutely not.

When NASCAR adopted the Chase format, it wasn’t about crowning the best driver that season. It was about artificially tightening the points race so that the races in November would be watched because the season championship hadn’t been decided. You can blame Matt Kenseth for this, but in effect it was the NFL that had more to do with the change than the massive points advantage the Wisconsin native racked up in the final weeks of the 2003 season.

The only justifications for a playoff system are television ratings and ticket sales, and instituting these changes on NASCAR’s minor leagues would have little effect.

What those two series are supposed to be about are developing drivers.

Somehow, the trucks series has transformed from a feeder program that once boasted Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle (in 2000) and Carl Edwards (in 2004) into a retirement home for mediocre Sprint Cup drivers who have found their niche in the series. Take this year’s champion, Hornaday. In 45 career Cup starts—with none since 2003—he’s had one top-10 finish total.

But regardless, the series is supposed to be about developing consistent drivers who are ready to race in the Sprint Cup circuit. And as George pointed out on this week’s episode of R&R Racing, this series has churned out some of the best side-by-side racing NASCAR has, and the points battles are usually just as close.

Last season, Johnny Benson edged Hornaday by seven points, and only once in the past eight years did the champion win by 100 points or more.

The Nationwide Series is a bit different. There are many younger drivers involved, and Brad Keselowski and David Gilliland are some of the latest young stars to turn wins in that series into full-time Cup rides. And because of the running feud between former Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin and Keselowski, there may be more eyes on that series than usual Saturday. (Hamlin has all but called his shot that he will be gunning for Keselowski during the Nationwide finale.)

However, again, the goal of the drivers competing here shouldn’t be only about winning a minor-league title. At the end of the day, it’s about developing consistent drivers. And manipulating the points standings to create drama undermines the entire reason for the series and awarding points in the first place.

So if Kyle Busch runs well enough each week to run away with that title, so be it. Just offer him congratulations and move on. In fact, if NASCAR were smart about this, they should set the schedules so that Busch could run in every race all season.

Sure, he might win all three titles, but talk about your must-see TV.

Agree or disagree with Chris? Let him know by e-mailing him .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Chris Wilbers argues that the playoff format that has injected some life into the Sprint Cup circuit would be counterproductive in NASCAR’s top two development series.