Austin Cindric referenced the NFL when talking about the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and whether changes were going to be made. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Cindric shared his reaction to the current playoff format.

“This is going to be an argument that will never satisfy all parties,” Austin Cindric said about the NASCAR playoffs. “My response would be, as someone who likes football, it’s the only other sport that I watch. If the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t win the Super Bowl as the best team in the league with the best quarterback in the league with the best record in the regular season, does that make it a bad year?

“I bet you most people who are tired of watching the Kansas City Chiefs win would gladly see somebody beat them in the Super Bowl. What is our Super Bowl moment, and how do we define that in racing that makes sense? Is it a single race? Is it a multiple races? I think the playoff format is exciting for those who understand it.”

More on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

Cindric continued, “I think if there are any changes in the future that are to be made, it has to be first and foremost simplifying in order for more to understand and appreciate. Otherwise, it’s difficult to add more incentives and more items into the fold. …You’re going to lose people’s interest because it’s going to be really confusing.”

Cindric clinched a spot in the playoffs after winning the Talladega race in April. The way the NASCAR playoffs are set up is that a driver can clinch a spot if they win a race in the regular season. 16 drivers qualify for the playoffs, and if there are fewer that 16 that have won a race before the playoffs begin, the remaining playoff spots are filled by the highest-ranked drivers based on points totals at the end of the regular season.

The NASCAR playoffs include 10 races, and the lowest four playoffs drivers are eliminated after the third, sixth and ninth race. The four remaining drivers compete in a singular championship race that takes place in Phoenix. The highest-finishing driver of the four is crowned the NASCAR Cup Series Champion.

NASCAR began the playoff system in 2004, but the current format started in 2014. Joey Logano is the reigning champion and has won the title three times in his career.