Christopher Bell Declares One Playoff Race Winner Isn’t a ‘True NASCAR Champion’

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Christopher Bell has shared his thoughts on the issues with the playoff format and the needs to change it.

Christopher Bell Declares One Playoff Race Winner Isn’t a ‘True NASCAR Champion’

Christopher Bell (Via @LVMotorSpeedway/X)

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The NASCAR Cup garage isn’t done with the debates and arguments about the playoff format. Since its introduction, credibility of the champions has been in question. In the Next-Gen era competition closer and clutch winners getting the advantage in the chase over consistent racers. Now JGR star Christopher Bell made a bold admission, as the criticism grew wider about the format.  

In his media appearance ahead of the 2025 playoff opener at Darlington, Christopher Bell was asked about the issues with the system and how to fix it. He analyzed the impossible question, as the fans and drivers gave differing opinions. The 2017 Truck Series champion boldly declared that drivers getting crowned the champion for just finale win isn’t credible enough.

It’s an impossible question to answer. What the fans want and what the drivers want are two completely different things. I can sit here and tell you from a driver in the sport that the way they crown a champion now with a one-race winner-take-all event is it’s not a true champion.

Christopher Bell said via SpeedFreaks’ Horsepower Hump Day podcast.

Earlier in the same conversation he shared an idea, that was already put forward by RCR’s Austin Dillon, on how the fix the format. He urged NASCAR to stop no-playoff cars from taking points away from the 16 racers in the last 10 races. So, only the playoff drivers should be given the points to control interference.

Austin actually talked about that a while ago, and I think that’s a great idea because you eliminate some of the interference that happens in our sport, where non-playoff cars are taking points every time away from the playoff guys. I think there’s positives and negatives that come out of that. But I think it’s a great idea for sure.

Christopher Bell explained.

Christopher Bell likes for 36 race format for the championship

In a separate conversation with Dirty Mo Media on the same topic, Christopher Bell called for the return of the full-season format. The No:20 Toyota driver then highlighted how every other sports championship like NFK and NBA has more than one event to crown their champion unlike NASCAR.  

Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell (Via @CBellRacing/X)

Me personally, I would like to have 36 races count towards the champion. And I think that’s how you get a champion of the sport, in auto racing. Now, people are going to say football does it, basketball does it. Football is a Super Bowl; basketball has seven games. And, yeah, I think you got to have more than one.

Christopher Bell said.

He then declared that a true champion can only be crowned in auto-racing by factoring in every race of the season. The star driver then admitted that he understands how the current format is more entertaining and creates more big moments. He is okay with NASCAR continuing with the format as long as the majority of the sports wants it.

If you’re going to have a champion of auto racing, it needs to be a full race schedule. But, that’s here, nor there. And I understand the playoff format. Like, I understand that it’s more entertaining, and the elimination style creates big moments in our sport. If that’s what we all agree upon, then let’s do it.

Christopher Bell added.

Hall of Famer Mark Martin was really excited with the comments from the star driver, as it is the first time an active driver publicly asked for 36 race format. Bell has earned the respect of Martin and rest of the grid with the comments, now it would be interesting to see how the sports leadership is going to respond to it.

Also Read: Shane van Gisbergen Confesses He “Hates” the NASCAR Playoffs