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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 13: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DEWALT Toyota, and Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
In 2004, NASCAR shook up its championship format with the launch of the “Chase,” a playoff-style system designed to inject drama into the final races of the season. The setup has since undergone tweaks, including a major overhaul in 2014, leading to today’s 16-driver elimination format.
But now, more than two decades later, NASCAR is at a crossroads. As Jeff Gluck reported for The New York Times, officials are weighing whether to scrap the NASCAR playoffs altogether in favor of a season-long points championship.
NASCAR Needs Bigger Stars
Gluck explained that the NASCAR playoffs have often failed to highlight the sport’s biggest names. Instead, they shift attention to fringe contenders just trying to survive elimination.
“The playoffs often do not focus on the best drivers, let alone reward them,” Gluck wrote. In his view, a return to a full-season NASCAR championship would keep the spotlight on stars like Denny Hamlin or Kyle Larson throughout the year, allowing fans to rally behind drivers who consistently perform at the top.
Why Every Race Should Count
Right now, Gluck argued, the NASCAR playoffs system weakens the value of the regular season.
“Drivers and teams lack the incentive to care about each race in the regular season,” he reported, noting that the win-and-in setup means one good race can carry a driver into the playoffs.
Under a traditional championship format, every race would matter equally, forcing contenders to maximize points from Daytona in February to Phoenix in November. That shift, Gluck suggested, could rebuild consistent week-to-week storylines for fans.
Racing Isn’t Football or Basketball
Gluck pointed out that, unlike football or basketball, racing doesn’t fit naturally into a playoff structure.
“Having the champion of the longest season in sports potentially determined by a backmarker driver… seems, to many fans, an unreliable method,” he wrote.
Other major series like Formula One and IndyCar crown champions through full-season points, not playoffs. A return to tradition, Gluck argued, would better reflect who truly was the best driver across 36 NASCAR Cup Series races.
The NASCAR Playoffs Haven’t Worked
The NASCAR playoffs were designed to attract new fans and create drama, but Gluck reported they haven’t produced results. Viewership has dropped sharply, with this year’s New Hampshire Round 2 opener drawing just 1.29 million viewers, compared to 5.5 million in the same race 20 years ago.
“If the current system isn’t generating the intended audience, while also raising questions and criticism about its credibility, then why keep it?” Gluck asked. The numbers show the gamble hasn’t paid off.
Simpler Path to a Champion
Finally, Gluck stressed the appeal of clarity. “The champion in a full-season format is determined like this: Whoever collects the most points wins. That’s it,” he wrote. That model eliminates the confusion of playoff points, resets, and eliminations. Critics worry about a dominant driver clinching early, but Gluck countered that the parity of NASCAR’s Next Gen car has kept things close. And if someone did dominate? “Wouldn’t that driver deserve it?”
Gluck asked, noting that dominance is part of sports history.
NASCAR officials haven’t decided whether the NASCAR playoffs will stay or go. But as Gluck reported, just considering a return to tradition shows how serious the sport is about finding a format that works. Whether it sticks with playoffs or embraces a full-season championship, the decision could reshape NASCAR’s future for decades.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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