(Video) Chase Elliott Endorses the Scrapping of the One-Race NASCAR Finale for a new format

Chase Elliott is on-board with NASCAR's idea to switch to a 3-3-4 championship format as compared to the current winner-takes-it-all.


(Video) Chase Elliott Endorses the Scrapping of the One-Race NASCAR Finale for a new format

Chase Elliott (via USA Today)

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NASCAR’s current championship format with the playoffs has continued to receive massive backlash ever since the idea was proposed. Many notable figures within the sport have berated the winner-takes-it-all format and are calling for changes to it. While the sport refuses to bring about changes anytime soon, they will be bound to listen to the criticism. Now, even Chase Elliott has talked about scrapping the current format and bringing a new one.

NASCAR had introduced the winner takes it all format in 2014 after the previous format remained the same more or less for the past decade. Since the format was introduced, the fans and drivers were wary of the change and were never fully on board with the idea, even now. Amid constant criticism for the current playoff and one-race finale, Chase Elliott has joined the same train of thought.

For now, a new and updated 3-3-4 structure is proposed that would change the current playoff format. In the new format, the title would be decided over four races in the final round, and a similar elimination style like the current format. Chase Elliott insisted that the newly proposed format would definitely be better than what NASCAR currently has.

Chase Elliott pointed out that instead of the winner-takes-it-all final race, there will be large number of races to decided the true championship winner. The new format will allow drivers have a better shot at the championship and not lose their championship chance because of things out of their control. The updated format will also not derail a driver’s entire championship and provide them a realistic shot over it.

I think it would be better than what we have, Because you just have a larger number of races in a round to decide. Seemingly would give an opportunity to have something that’s totally out of somebody’s hands, not completely derail their championship.

Chase Elliott said, as reported by @PitLaneCPT/X.

Chase Elliott claims new format ‘not perfect’

Some drivers are still skeptical of the newly proposed format as it is still similar to the current one. Instead of the round of 4 being the championship decider, all the ten races of the playoffs can decide a driver’s winning chances.

Chase Elliott (via Hendrick)
Chase Elliott (via Hendrickmotorsports.com)

The driver that tops in the entire playoff session would be hailed the champion for the respective season. Although minor changes will ultimately call for bigger changes as Chase Elliott casted doubts over the newly proposed format.

Chase Elliott declared that the 3-3-4 structure to decide the championship winner wasn’t exactly iron-clad or perfect. People would still want changes to the format, but the debate would never end and satisfy everyone fully as they would still call for changes. However, Elliott emphasized that this change sounded better than what the sport currently has, and facilitate further changes in the coming years.

 So is it perfect? Probably not, but I would say that sounds better.

Chase Elliott noted

The 2025 season of NASCAR has been extremely interesting and exciting despite the continuous backlash for the playoff format. The sport will be bound to listen to the driver and team feedback at some point and bring about changes to the working. Moreover, the current playoff format has been the same over the past decade and changes to it are long overdue.

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