The 36-race grind, with only one weekend off, weighs heavily on NASCAR drivers. It\u2019s not just the wheel-to-wheel racing that drains them. Between sponsor appearances, media duties, family time, and weekly simulator sessions, their plates stay full from February to November. Several drivers have even floated the idea of shorter seasons or at least an extra break midyear. According to Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, the playoffs help keep the fire burning and stave off burnout.<\/p>\n
At Talladega, fortune turned its back on Larson when his tank ran dry half a lap from the finish, leaving him P26, ahead of two more races. Asked if the playoffs make the grueling season easier to endure, the Hendrick Motorsports driver said<\/a>, \u201cYeah, I mean, I think still being in the playoffs and competing for a championship distracts you from the grind in a way or that it has been as long as it has been since we\u2019ve had a break. <\/p>\n \u201cI think the guys who didn\u2019t make the playoffs or who got knocked out in a round, yeah, they\u2019re probably just counting down the days until the season is over. But for us, we\u2019re still in it, so I haven\u2019t really felt like I want the year to be over. But yeah, it\u2019s definitely a long year\u2026 it always is.\u201d<\/p>\n Larson<\/a> added that even if NASCAR tossed in another weekend off, the season would still feel long. He admitted the strain hits the crew harder than the drivers, given their ruthless schedules and long shop hours, especially this deep into the playoffs. While he wouldn\u2019t mind another breather, he knows the toll runs deepest on the mechanics who live and breathe it every day.<\/p>\n Bell, who finished eighth at Talladega and carries the most cushion points among the rest of the six playoff drivers, still not locked into the championship 4, heading into the Martinsville elimination race, echoed Larson\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n