Denny Hamlin Argues in Favor Making Significant Change to NASCAR Playoff Format

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on the need to increase the sample size of races before crowning the champion.

Denny Hamlin Argues in Favor Making Significant Change to NASCAR Playoff Format

Denny Hamlin (Via newsminimalist.com)

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Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has been asking for a change in NASCAR Chase for the Championship format for a longtime. In his latest appearance on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, alongside Hall of Famer Dale Eranhardt Jr., the veteran who is regarded as the best not win a title ever, argued in favor a change that would make the Bill France Cup more legit.

The legitimacy of the championship has been a point of discussion in the Next-Gen era, due to the drivers in clutch form such as the likes of Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney winning the championship. So, he wants NASCAR to have a bigger sample size for the finale and have a championship round instead of the finale race. Denny Hamlin believes this new format is TV worthy just like the current system.

I certainly would be in favor of a championships round. You have all the other rounds, why not a championship round? I think there’s enough compelling stories that TV could make it work.

Denny Hamlin said via Dale Jr. Download.

This hasn’t been the first time the three times Daytona 500 winner has asked to make the change, as he has been an advocate of a change to the championship round format, instead of going back to the legacy point tally format. It won’t be wild to say that if there was a championship round, instead of one race, Hamlin would have been a champion already.

Further talking about the point, he pointed out that he is okay with the round having races from three to ten, just needs that change to be made. He also sees the marketing aspect of the change, as this will give more cities the opportunities to get involved in the championship crowning round and generate more buzz, as well as business around the race day.

I think it’s good for the cities that are a part of that. If you had three, five, 10… I don’t know how many races this would be. But certainly it’s going to open up the possibility of the cities getting a round being a part of that championship round, and hopefully the fan turnout (is better) as well.

Denny Hamlin added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. supports Denny Hamlin’s championship round idea

In the same podcast earlier, host and Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on the idea. He asserted that the new format would produce better champion, and give the title win more credibility. The format can reward the driver that has been consistent throughout the whole season, giving them breathing space to make mistakes.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via Newsweek)

I think that that would reward the better champion. Not that there’s been a champion that’s not been deserving, but it’s certainly the bigger the sample size that you give it’s going to be more indicative of your top drivers that perform week in, week out like you talk about. Not just one particular week.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

This is a solid idea, as the micky mouse championship tag that has been given to the current championship has been hurting the sport for a long-time. A change to the format might inspire the haters of the current system as well as the legacy fans who ae having the nostalgic feelings about the good old days.

The remaining NASCAR community will most probably will be happy about having a championship round as it increases their chances of winning, as well as open new opportunities in the marketing side for him. It would be interesting to see of the sanctioning body is going look into the idea and make the changes the racing community has been asking for many years.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Slams NASCAR Over “Concrete Racetrack Gimmick” at Dover