Few topics divide NASCAR Nation like its playoff format, and the latest ROVAL showdown has only widened the gap. The polarization is almost complete: veteran vs. veteran, expert vs. pundit, old-school vs. new-age fans. It’s an all-out war of words in the industry, with old-school drivers like Mark Martin going against fellow veteran Kenny Wallace.

Amid the heated debate, following the ROVAL weekend, longtime racer Ken Schrader has thrown his support behind the current system, joining forces with Wallace to defend NASCAR’s playoff format. Yet, in response, a prominent racing insider has respectfully pushed back, doubling down on why the sport must return to its traditional full-season championship rather than turning into a “video game.”

‘Can’t Get on Board’ – NASCAR Pundit Fires Back at Kenny Wallace’s Playoff Defense With Tough Love

The sanctioning body has mastered the art of stirring the pot, keeping debate alive across the NASCAR community. Whether it’s their “proud” Next Gen hardware or the ever-controversial playoff format, the sport has ensured fans and experts always have something to talk about.

At the ROVAL, defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano only added fuel to the fire, rubbing salt in the wounds of those opposing NASCAR’s elimination format. According to the Team Penske ace, the system has consistently created compelling storylines and added layers of drama like never before.

Although the 35-year-old drew plenty of flak from fans and veterans alike, four-time Cup Series race winner Ken Schrader found himself agreeing with Logano’s comments. Speaking on the “Herm and Schrader” podcast, the 70-year-old veteran joined longtime friend Kenny Wallace in defending NASCAR’s playoff format.

Wallace kicked off the discussion with his trademark enthusiasm, reflecting on the recently concluded Bank of America ROVAL 400: “The race was so damn exciting yesterday and if the don’t have the playoffs, we don’t have those moments.”

Schrader then followed it up with his blunt take: “Between Logano and Chastain, they’re racing for eighth place. Who in the hell would give a crap about eighth place in the points with four races to go, if it wasn’t for the playoffs?”

With the final playoff spot on the line, it all came down to Ross Chastain and Logano, both fighting tooth and nail for survival. The Trackhouse Racing driver came out swinging, finishing Stage 1 inside the top 10 to collect as many points as possible and keep his title hopes alive.

Yet, a string of pit road miscues took the wind out of his sails, and a final-lap run-in with Denny Hamlin sealed his fate, ultimately handing the No. 22 driver a free pass into the Round of 8.

The ensuing contact saw Chastain reverse his car across the finish line, a move of born out of desperation that Wallace and many of his followers labeled “exciting.” But, motorsport journalist Toby Christie begged to differ. Retweeting to Wallace and Schrader’s clip, he clapped back with his own take:

“I respect the hell out of Kenny and Ken, but I can’t get on board. Sunday at the Roval was a showcase of everything wrong with Playoffs in NASCAR. Full season points is what we need not a bunch of guys deciding to be video game players instead of race car drivers on the last lap.”

The racing reporter argued that the ROVAL was a perfect example of everything wrong with NASCAR’s playoff system. Adding more weight to his point, he insisted that the sport desperately needs to return to a full-season championship format and that chaos should never be mistaken for “drama” or “excitement.”

Ultimately, despite the anti-climactic finish, the ROVAL feature tanked in viewership, garnering just 1,544,000 viewers on USA Network against 2024’s 2.4 million on NBC.