NASCAR’s postseason structure has evolved dramatically since the 2004 debut of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, when the top-10 drivers after 26 events were reset into a 10-race finale to determine the champion. This expanded to 12 drivers in 2007, then to 16 in 2014, with each driver’s win-rich resume earning playoff points for seeding and advancement through elimination rounds. Over the years, legends like Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and, more recently, Joey Logano leveraged timely wins and playoff momentum to clinch titles, sometimes against the backdrop of middling regular-season stats, underscoring how the format rewards those peaking at playoff time.
Inside the drivers’ circle, opinions are strong and often pointed. Chase Elliott, despite winning his 2020 championship under the playoff system, has voiced disappointment: “The system would be just fine if you just had a full season (and no playoffs)… Let’s celebrate the fact that somebody was just that good.” Brad Keselowski echoed this stance, criticizing the current format’s inability to showcase consistent excellence in the Next Gen era, writing, “The small sample size… creates a natural oblivious state to the excellence this car requires.” But recently, there has been some uneasiness within NASCAR’s playoff committee as well, all behind the doors.
Balancing legitimacy with TV demands
NASCAR’s much-discussed playoff overhaul is unlikely to arrive in 2026 despite months of meetings, proposals, and optimism earlier in the year. What began as a serious effort to address criticism of the one-race championship format has now stalled, with executives tabling discussions for at least six weeks and shifting the timeline toward 2027. NASCAR needs to consult privately with NBC Sports, one of its four Cup Series television partners and the network that currently broadcasts the playoffs, before committing to any significant change. Given the network $1.1 billion per year media rights investment over the next seven years, its influence over the playoff format is undeniable.
The committee, which includes current and former drivers, team owners, track officials, and select media members, was initially formed in response to growing dissatisfaction after the 2024 playoffs. Last year, Joey Logano captured the championship with the worst average finish for a title winner in NASCAR’s modern era. The aim was to produce a format that crowned a more “deserving” champion while maintaining the entertainment factor needed to compete with the NFL on fall Sundays. “The current format, created to draw more eyeballs in a crowded sports landscape, is not working as intended,” was the consistent theme that emerged during the first meeting in Daytona.
Inside NASCAR’s playoff committee: The process, the discussions, and where things could be headed…eventually. https://t.co/HbEZ8dJPGt
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 31, 2025
While some in the room were content with the status quo, most drivers voiced concerns about the legitimacy of the elimination format, saying it was difficult to sell fans on a one-race championship when they struggled to buy into it. NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin even put up a poll for his followers on X, with 60% voting for a return to full-season points versus just 7.5% for the current format. A similar poll was put up by The Athletic, which mirrored the results. Still, others noted that social media polls don’t represent the broader fanbase and that the original purpose of the playoffs was to engage casual viewers who might prefer the drama of an elimination battle.
By mid-year, discussions had gravitated toward a compromise of extending the championship round to three or even five races. Denny Hamlin championed the three-race idea on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, saying, “The committee has ‘a large concern of its legitimacy.’ You need to legitimize your sport first; the people will tune in,” but some members argued it wouldn’t go far enough to restore credibility. Others floated reviving the 10-race Chase or implementing a five-race opening round followed by a five-race mini-Chase. Additional tweaks under consideration included reducing the playoff field from 16 to 12 drivers, rewarding race winners with more points, carrying points through playoff rounds, and simplifying the system to make it easier for new fans to understand. “The goal,” as many agreed, “is to make the championship feel earned, meaningful, and worthy of celebration.”
However, the scheduling implications of a new format are significant. NASCAR wants to avoid chaos-prone races like Talladega Superspeedway deciding the championship. It could be the case under the current schedule if a three-race finale were implemented without changes. NBC’s preference will weigh heavily on the outcome, as eliminations are a promotional goldmine, and the live points shuffle in the final laps of cutoff races remains a proven ratings draw. While some argue TV shouldn’t dictate the championship structure, NASCAR’s financial reliance on its broadcast partners makes their input essential.
For now, the sport’s fans and its playoff committee alike are left in limbo, awaiting a decision that could reshape how NASCAR crowns its champion. But it might not be the case until 2027.
Mark Martin calls for patience amid NASCAR playoff criticism.
NASCAR’s history is rich with championship battles decided by the slimmest of margins. From Richard Petty‘s 11-point edge over Darrell Waltrip in 1979 to Alan Kulwicki’s one-lap triumph over Bill Elliott in 1992. For Mark Martin, who built his legendary career on consistency rather than knockout drama, these moments are a reminder of an era when every lap mattered. “Well, under the old systems, 1992, I mean, it came down to Alan Kulwicki leading one more lap,” Martin said, pointing to a time when season-long points determined greatness.
Still, Martin sees parallels between the unpredictability of the old system and today’s playoffs, despite criticism that the one-race finale rewards luck over season-long performance. Drawing a sports analogy, he noted, “It’s just I don’t watch any other sports, none, except for the Super Bowl every year, I watch that. And I thought this was a snoozer last year. But it’s not going to stop me from watching it next year because it might be incredible. And that’s how racing is.” For him, unpredictability is part of the sport’s beauty, even if one season produces a runaway champion.
Referencing Logano’s 2024 title, Martin urged fans to look at the bigger picture. “You’ll have a runaway, but if you lined them up tomorrow and ran the same race again, it could be a whole different game,” he said. “It’s just the same point being with Logano’s championship last year. Not every championship is going to go down the way it did last year. They’re all different, for sure.” Each NASCAR season is a unique story, and that is exactly why fans should embrace them all, according to Martin.
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