Kurt Busch Declares NASCAR Needs a “Hybrid Playoffs Format”

2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch has shared his thoughts on a new playoffs format that can fix the sport.

Kurt Busch Declares NASCAR Needs a “Hybrid Playoffs Format”

Kurt Busch (Via IMAGO)

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One of the major points of discussions in 2025 season has been the credibility of the playoffs format and how it’s time to go back to the original full-season points.  NASCAR has already announced plans to change the format for the 2026 season. Kurt Busch, the first champion of the playoffs era recently shared his thoughts on these discussions.

On his appearance in The Morning Drive show of SiriusXM NASCR Radio, the former 23XI Racing driver shared his idea on how the fix the system. Kurt Busch pointed out that at the moment the best way forward for the sport is to have a format that is a hybrid of the full-season points system and the original 10-race playoffs system.

I think we need a little bit of a hybrid of what we have currently, versus a full 36-race schedule versus a 10-race playoff format, which is what I won under.

Kurt Busch said via SiriusXM’s “The Morning Drive” (Fanbuzz.com).

He asserted that the format needs to be changed it to a five-race format. He also wants the regular season points to have some weight as well. The champion will be decided upon who will be able to be the most dominant force in the five races as well as who will be able to take advantage of the regular season performance.

I think you need a five-race style format, and you keep some points from the regular season, but it’s the five races, and you accumulate as many points as you can during those five. If you’re lucky enough to have four or five points in the bank coming into the final race, you use that to your advantage.

Kurt Busch added.

Kurt Busch hails Shane van Gisbergen over his new number for 2026 NASCAR season

Coming into the 2026 Cup season, Trackhouse Racing ius making some big changes, from crew to branding. One of the biggest changes is the car number change of Shane van Gisbergen. He will drive the No:97 car from next season, while his No:88 will be taken over by rookie Conor Zilisch. Kurt Busch was delighted to see this happening and shared his happiness on Instagram with a special post.

Shane van Gisbergen (via Getty)
Shane van Gisbergen (via Getty)

I remember meeting you in Chicago 2022 before you won your first race in your first Cup start. I could sense that you would be great. I also asked where the origin of the #97 came from. You said family. I am so proud that the #97 is back in @nascar – make it great again!

Kurt Busch wrote on Instagram.

The number means a lot emotionally for the veteran racer, as he raced with it from his junior racing years alongside his father who used to race with the same number. Other than in his V-8 Supercars championship years, where he was obliged to use the No:1, he used this number. SVG was impressed with the NASCAR veteran and thanked him on social media.

Thanks @kurtbusch.

Shane van Gisbergen responded.

The comments from both the legends shows how much the respect each other. SVG, who won five road course races in his 2025 rookie Cup season and a lot left to offer for the sport. It will be pretty special to do it when one of the biggest names of the sport in Busch rooting for him.

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