Wait, NASCAR Might Actually Kill The Playoffs? Here’s Why … And Why It Might Not
The future of NASCAR’s postseason will be decided soon.
Last week, a committee made up of drivers, owners, journalists, manufacturers, track owners and series executives held their final meeting before a decision is made on the playoffs format for the 2026 season.
Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications said during this week’s “Hauler Talk” podcast that it kicked off with a discussion about eliminating the playoffs entirely and going back to a 36-race full season points championship.
Jeff Gluck, NASCAR reporter for The Athletic, was one of the participants and said there was far more support for the idea, and the door seemed open much wider for, than there was during a meeting held seven months ago.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST NASCAR NEWS
Forde said a top argument for continuing with a postseason came from the president of a track that was recently added to the playoffs who said that, “it’s easier to sell tickets to a playoffs race … our fans were jacked for that.”
He also noted that team owners said it is a little easier to get sponsorship for their cars.
Forde said that storylines created by elimination situations and a winner take all finale have always been a big reason for the playoffs idea, but Gluck’s report notes that they can also work against it.
Among his list of five reasons why the playoffs might go away was that the storylines are often focused on the drivers close to the cutline as the end of the regular season approaches and in the playoffs, rather than the big stars of the sport.
The lack of big stars that reach beyond the NASCAR fanbase, like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. once did, is something the playoffs hasn’t fixed, according to Gluck, while also devaluing the regular season.
Read Also: DALE EARNHARDT JR. DRIVES A $40,000 CHEVY SILVERADO TRAIL BOSS
It also hasn’t proved to be successful drawing fans on TV, while other series, including Formula 1, have seen growth with full-season championship formats, even as titles are often decided with several races left in the season.
He said the NASCAR playoff system is also confusing, especially to non fans, with the playoff points awarded for stage wins and victories and points resets for the playoffs. This season, for instance, saw William Byron claim the regular season championship, but get seeded fourth for the start of the playoffs.
Forde acknowledged the playoff points are a “barrier to entry” for casual fans, but they incentivize drivers who get a win early in the season to keep racing hard, even though they are already locked into the playoffs.
Read Also: DENNY HAMLIN SAYS NEW NASCAR PLAYOFFS WILL BE ‘BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE’
As for what format a new playoffs might take, the leading candidate seems to be 16 drivers and three rounds with cut-offs at three and six races and the champion decided by points over the final four. This would be something of a hybrid that combines elements from the Playoffs and the old 10-race Chase for the Championship.
“I would be very surprised if the one-race championship is still around,” Ford said, but added that the final decision is in the hands of NASCAR leadership, not the committee.
As for when any change will be confirmed, Forde said it would likely be after the finale at Phoenix so as to not draw attention away from this season’s title fight.