NASCAR Insider Declared Fans Doesn’t Want “Abolition of the Playoff Format”

NASCAR broadcaster Leigh Diffey has shared his thoughts on the what fans needs to see change with the playoffs format.

NASCAR Insider Declared Fans Doesn’t Want “Abolition of the Playoff Format”

NASCAR Insider Leigh Diffey Declared Fans Doesn’t Want “Abolition of the Playoff Format” (Via imago and nytimes.com)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

The credibility of the playoffs format and the champion have been the biggest point of contention over the last few seasons in the NASCAR community. After the debates peaked this year, the stock car racing sanctioning body was forced rethink the system. They are set to introduce a new version of the playoffs in the 2026 season.

Many in the racing community doesn’t want a new playoff, instead want to go back to the original full-season points format that NASCAR abandoned more than two decades ago. At the same time, in Australia, the V8 Supercars Championship is set to have its maiden post-season inspired by the premier stock car racing division.

NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey, who has experienced both NASCAR, Supercars and many other motorsports championship has shared his thoughts on system. He detailed the things Supercars needs to be concerned about while adopting the system and asserted that the current one-race finale system in NASCAR is past it’s shelf life, as the time has come for a change.

The general consensus is that the majority don’t enjoy having one race that determines it all. There’s been plenty of great champions crowned, plenty of great years and moments, but maybe it’s had its shelf life, maybe it’s lived out a term in this current format.

Leigh Diffey told Fox Sports Australia.

He highlighted how the sports have had multiple versions of the current system, from the original ten race finale to the current chase format. Since it does have its merits; according to Diffey, the racing community wants a new format to determine that champion where there 3-4 race in the final round instead just abolishing the whole system.

NASCAR has been doing it for some 20 years now in a variety of ways, and I think the fan base is just calling for a tweak – not necessarily the abolition of the playoff format, but maybe a three – or four-race format in terms of determining the champion.

Leigh Diffey added.

Mark Martin believes NASCAR fans doesn’t want a new version of the playoffs

The comments from Leigh Diffey goes entirely against what Hall of Famer Mark Martin has been advocating for many years. He wants the sport to go back to the original format with more emphasis given to points.

Mark Martin
Mark Martin (Via IMAGO)

I am all in with 36. I think we need to debate how you award the points. That’s a debatable subject, but first you have to say, ‘Yes. We’re going to go with a full season.’

Mark Martin said.

He asserted that at the moment everyone in the community knows the sport isn’t going to the original format anytime soon. Martin asserted that the only change that will be backed by fans will be going to the 10-race format, and anything else won’t resonate with them.

However, I know we’re almost positive we can’t get NASCAR to do that. And so, I could get behind a 10-race chase format as a compromise, nothing less. If they come with this 3-3-4 business, it’s not going to resonate with the fans.

Mark Martin added.

The comments from the veteran seems rational and a point of view most in the community might agree in the time of transition in the sport. But unfortunately, it’s not going to happen and the stock car racing community has to adjust with this fact.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Brands Playoffs Sympathizers as “Mediocre People”