Many people have taken a swing at fixing the NASCAR playoffs, and now I will step up to take a swing. Like Major League Baseball, NASCAR fans typically have a “get off my lawn” feel to them. Change is looked down upon, the old way was better, so why make changes? My NASCAR fandom started in the late 90’s but lost interest in the sport around 2015. I have cheered for Ford drivers with the lone exception being Dale Jr. I jumped back in recently in 2022. I admit I’m not an old head, I don’t know some of the historical races, and I am not a car guy. But I love sports, and I love competition, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. I also like solving problems, and a lot of people think the NASCAR Playoffs are a problem. So here is my effort to fix them.
Should there even be a playoff?
Yes. NASCAR still awards the regular season points champion, so you still get recognized for that accomplishment. I will admit that does not mean as much as the Playoff championship, but for those who desire the season points to mean something, it does, technically. Every sport that draws viewers has a playoff of some sort. The NASCAR Playoffs provide extra storylines during the races. Yes, people want to see who wins, but they also watch the cars on the cut line, a battle for 15th means something in the playoff races. In the NFL the best regular-season team does not always win or even make it to the Super Bowl. The NBA, NHL, and MLB playoffs play a series, similar to a three-race playoff round, which gives the better teams a higher percentage chance of advancing, but they do not always advance. Just because you have the best regular season does not mean you should be the champion. The NASCAR Playoffs are a good thing for the sport.
One win and you’re in?
I believe this is the first area that needs to be improved. I can appreciate wanting winning a race to mean something, but the sport allows for luck. In a long season luck should not get you into the playoffs, talent should. Harrison Burton had no place being in the playoffs this season. Many like an underdog, but Harrison was out of his league. I would be for raising the point total for a win to 50. I believe winning two races should lock you into the playoffs. While you could be lucky twice, it is less likely. Two wins and you are in. See, now we are fixing the NASCAR Playoffs!
Let’s reward winning more!
Most sports have bye’s for the best in their league, and NASCAR should do the same. While I think two wins should get you into the playoffs, I think five wins should secure your spot in the round of twelve. The current makeup of the playoffs gives drivers with several wins a high likelihood of making it through round one, this would guarantee it. Why should the best driver in NASCAR have to sweat in round one? Eight regular season wins should lock you into the round of eight. They would still race and could earn points to advance in the playoffs.
Eliminate the win and you are through
The addition of “byes” would eliminate the playoff “win and you are through” system. If three cars were automatically into the round of twelve, you could not allow three playoff winners to advance. So it would be strictly on playoff points once the playoffs started. Could you imagine a round of 16 with only one or two spots open for the next round? It would be thrilling!
I am sure the NASCAR purists will hate these ideas, but the “let’s go back to the old system” narrative is going nowhere. What do you think about fixing the NASCAR Playoffs? Do you agree with me?
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