Since NASCAR unveiled its plans for what amounts to a season-ending playoff in Nextel Cup, drivers and teams have taken a wait-and-see attitude.

Well, the wait is coming to an end. Only eight races will remain until the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup, which includes the Oct. 10 race at Kansas Speedway, begins.

And what have we seen?

• The folks at NASCAR clearly think that their Chase is doing what it was designed to do: They think it is creating improved racing and a snowballing excitement among fans, media and competitors as the season has progressed.

When the Chase begins Sept. 19 at New Hampshire International Speedway, NASCAR officials think they’ll more than hold their own against the NFL, college football, baseball’s playoff run and the impending start of college hoops.

“It is going to be what we all hoped for: a lot more excitement,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said last month. “A lot more drama, a lot more fan bases energized as a result of the system and frankly, the competition has heated up.”

• Many drivers say they have not altered their driving strategies in light of the change: Defending Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth had the most succinct answer when asked if he has changed the way he drives this year.

“No,” Kenseth said a couple weeks ago.

• Back at the shops, however, it appears life has changed: Kenseth said his team, which looks to be included in the Chase, has “sort of” begun making preparations for the final 10 races.

“We’re trying to design some new stuff on our chassis and some new stuff on our bodies, some testing and starting to get ready to know what we want to build for the last 10,” he said.

• Many teams are well aware of where they are in the Chase: Elliott Sadler, who drives for Robert Yates Racing, said he knows where he is and where others are in the chase for the Chase.

“Every Sunday night and Monday, I’m studying the points and looking at who we gained on and who we lost to and why,” said Sadler, who sits seventh in the standings. “I also try to project what we have to do the next one or two races to be where we want to be.”

• Many teams that will not be in the Chase are beginning to feel left out of all the fun: Driver Rusty Wallace, who is 17th in the points race, said he doesn’t like the way those who no longer have hopes of making the Chase are feeling these days.

“If you’re out of the top 10 this time, it’s going to make you feel like a loser and I don’t think that’s good for the sport,” he said.

• There is talk that the Chase will have a dramatic — perhaps drastic — effect on team-sponsor relationships: “I feel like the sponsors are being cheated if they are not in the top-10 cutoff,” driver Ricky Rudd said. “I think you will see sponsors in the future having one price if you are in the top 10 at the end of the year — because you are definitely going to get more attention — and another if the guys were not in the top 10.”
• The heat is on for

drivers: “It’s high as it’s ever been in my career to make the top 10 at the 26th race,” veteran driver Mark Martin said of the pressure this year. “If I can make the top 10, I may only have five minutes of relief and then start agonizing over whether or not we can win the championship because we’re not going to be a contender for it if we can’t make that cut.”