Why isn’t NASCAR going to change the controversial playoff format?

The playoff format came under scrutiny from the racing community yet again this season, but that won’t make NASCAR to abandon it.

Why isn’t NASCAR going to change the controversial playoff format?

NASCAR Clash at the Colosseum 2024 (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR Cup season, as it was with its previous editions, witnessed criticism from the racing community about the championship format. Joey Logano became a third times cup champion taking full advantage of the system, peaking right time, had the worst stat in terms of average finishes compared to other champions before him.

It was not just the champion who is been scrutinized, even the championship-4 was under the microscope owning to race manipulation allegation from R-8 finale at Martinsville, that made NASCAR suspend three drivers caused some drams as well. But according to senior NASCAR Journalist Jordan Bianchi, none of this going cause a change to the system all together as it produces damn good races.

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The Playoff format isn’t going to change. I’ll say, before the last 20 laps of this race, or whatever it was, this was a damn good playoff race. This underlined the fact of why this playoff format is so good, because you had (Ryan) Blaney and (Chase) Elliot and I’ll throw (Kyle) Larson in there, and you had (Denny) Hamlin’s great run from the back, which is going to get overlooked today.

Jordan Bianchi said via The Teardown podcast.

The races, especially at Martinsville for the final four was pretty clean, yet hard, with majority of the top drivers going at each other for the victory. This interesting race was the byproduct of the playoff system, and it can be properly replaced if the format is changed. The positive output from keeping the forma out wights the negatives, hence the system is here to stay.  

All these guys are going at it, the gloves are off, they’re racing hard but clean – physical but clean – and they’re going for the win. This is a byproduct of the Playoff system, and it was fantastic to watch unfold. And it’s not going to change, I’m sorry. This playoff format is here to stay.

Jordan Bianchi added.

Why the NASCAR’s punishments for race manipulation weren’t enough?

While NASCAR came down hard on the three drivers and their crew involved in the alleged race manipulation at Martinsville, it didn’t seem to be enough. The fine, the crews chief suspension and the points penalty all didn’t hurt the drivers much and the consequences was something any team would trade-off for a good overall result.  

GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series
GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series (Via IMAGO)

Honestly, by suspending the crew chiefs, I feel bad for them, because they’re effectively just delivering the message from above. So, I don’t know what you do. Again, if I’m Chevrolet and the 1 and the 3 get fined, I’m happily writing that check. Like, cool, thanks, here you go. Moving on. We’re going for the championship. Because it worked. I’d take that trade-off any day.

Jordan Bianchi said.

NASCAR has to come up with much stronger penalties for the 2025 season if the same manipulation is being done by the drivers. Direct one or two race suspension should be the first step, alongside a hefty fine. If such changes aren’t made, teams would feel like they can easily get away with making such calls.