It was a season to remember, a season that included some of the closest finishes we’ve seen, solid racing, some bent fenders, and a controversial playoff race. Unfortunately everyone is talking about the playoff format rather then the amazing season that happened this year. But i understand where everyone is coming from, so that’s why i’m here to fix it. NASCAR is on the hot seat more then ever, since bringing in this new playoff format in 2014. This is the most outrage i’ve seen from fans about the format. Now NASCAR said they don’t have any plans to change the format in their press conference this past Friday but let’s break down how i would run the championship.

The Schedule and playoff format

36 races is the perfect amount, we get a solid regular season with a deep enough playoff rounds. I will not be changing the amount of races that NASCAR runs. I also will not be changing the way the playoffs are ran. With 3 races for the round of 16, 3 for the round of 12 and well you get the rest. This format does create those Game 7 moments that fans are drawn in the middle of but i think i have cracked the code where i can make NASCAR happy by keeping this format, and making the fans happy keeping this controversial format.

NEW Rules

NO Playoff Points

NO Win and your in

Bring back the point for leading a lap

20 bonus points for winning a race

10 points for winning a stage (P2-P10 still get awarded points)

First, i wanna talk about the win and your in. I personally do not like the rule, especially in the later rounds of the playoffs, you can essentially win the first race of every round and just hang near the back. In my format, we will completely cancel it out. Winning a race will grant you 15 bonus points on top of the points you receive for finishing first. We’ve seen multiple drivers win races at Daytona, Talladega, and the road courses who have went on to be first round exits while drivers who we’re eliminated end up thriving in those final 10 weeks. Removing the win and your in rule could push drivers to consistently perform and deliver Top 10’s throughout the season, since you can no longer just win a race to make the playoffs.

In my format, we will also be removing the playoff points format. It’s just unnecessary for the new format i would like NASCAR to implement. My format would reward wins and stage points and also bringing back the lead a lap and you get a point. I’ve never liked the idea of having points in the playoffs despite not running a race in the playoffs yet.

Also we will be keeping the stage racing format, i know that it’s very controversial but i do enjoy the idea of breaking the race up into three parts to award points, but i never understood why they had to throw a caution. We will be removing the caution break for the stages. But still reward drivers the points for finishing in the top 10. This will bring back the strategy factor back into NASCAR as teams know that they can rely on at least two cautions to tweak their cars to their liking. But removing the cautions, could change the racing completely as teams will not be able to rely on a caution to come down pit road anymore. This could create for some very interesting situations where drivers will choose between getting points in a stage or coming down pit road for service

Now you may be asking, how does this format not create a moment that we saw in Martinsville in 2024? Well in this new format, you aren’t really safe anymore if you just win a race, you need to consistently perform week in and week out. This is the racing that the fans want, they don’t wanna see a driver who wasn’t the best all season, make the playoffs and end up winning the championship. They wanna see the best drivers all season battle it out at Phoenix.