Kyle Larson Insists “Everyone in NASCAR” Happy with the New Playoffs Format

Kyle Larson boldly claimed that a majority of the people in NASCAR community were happy with the return of Chase championship format.

Kyle Larson Insists “Everyone in NASCAR” Happy with the New Playoffs Format

Kyle Larson (via Getty)

NASCAR has finally brought about changes to the highly criticized playoff championship format. The sport faced a lot of criticism over the matter before they finally brought back the Chase championship format for the 2026 season onwards. Despite mixed but overall positive reviews from the community, reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson delivers his honest opinion on the changes.

Kyle Larson enjoyed a successful campaign in the 2025 season with the playoff format. The HMS star achieved two title wins because of the playoff format, but tasted defeat in the past as well. Regardless, many people were unhappy with the winner-takes-it-all format and hoped for changes to it for quite some time. Though the likes of Joey Logano and many others are still skeptical of the change.

Speaking on winning championships under the playoff format, Kyle Larson recalled that it was certainly very tough to make it into the Championship-4. Moreover, the driver needed many factors in their favor to come out as the winner in the championship. As such, this format did not really test the driver’s ability to perform well over the season, but rather depended on luck more than results.

The Chase format will focus more on overall points and, hence, give a fair chance to the driver who has achieved good results throughout the season. Kyle Larson assumed that everyone was happy to have the new format. The drivers would now be able to position themselves well for a championship win if they are consistent and become a common visitor to the victory lane.

It was really tough to make it to the final four and have it come down to one race where you had to be good at that track and not have anything freak happen, I would assume everyone is just happier to have this format, and if you can be consistent and run up front and win some races, I think you’ll position yourself well.

Kyle Larson told RACER.

Kyle Larson ‘excited’ to try something new with the refreshed championship format

Kyle Larson debuted in the pinnacle of stock racing in the 2012 season, when the playoff format had already been ongoing for over eight years. Since then, the championship format has not witnessed many changes, and Larson picked up two title wins in the same. As such, the two-time champion is now delighted to try on something new and go through a completely new experience to fight for the championship win.

Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson (via Imago)

Speaking on the changes, Kyle Larson asserted that he was excited to try something new as he had only ever raced under the playoffs format. The HMS star reckoned that it was great as winning races was now more important than ever. Larson insisted that Hendrick Motorsports would benefit a lot from the format change, as he hopes for a clearer path to winning a championship in the coming seasons.

I’m just excited to try something new, I’ve only ever raced under in the playoff era. I think it’s good, I think winning is still really important with the amount of points that you get. So, I think it’s great. It benefits a good team like Hendrick Motorsports, so hopefully that makes it a little bit clearer path to winning a championship.

Kyle Larson noted

The 2026 season is right around the corner, but the season-opener might be a completely new challenge for the drivers. The snowstorm in and around the Bowman Gray Stadium could cause disruptions in the race weekend. However, the teams and drivers are looking forward to the challenge and will give it their all from the get-go. Kyle Larson will certainly hope to achieve consecutive championship wins and continue his legacy in Formula 1.

Continue Reading: Shane van Gisbergen Brands Connor Zilisch an “Unreal Talent”