NASCAR’s playoff system will not be going anyplace, however the door will not be closed on future tweaks to the format.
“The format is one factor, however we’re not going to go away from the playoffs,” NASCAR Chief Working Officer Steve O’Donnell stated on Friday throughout his annual State of the Sport deal with. “We learn followers (complaints) and all the pieces. We are going to, as we all the time do … take a look at what type the playoffs take within the offseason. You all the time be taught.
“However the playoffs in and of itself… you can’t argue with the standard of racing that the playoffs have delivered. You may speak about format; if we do some various things, however completely, we’re going to keep it up.”
NASCAR crowns its three nationwide sequence champions this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The questions on whether or not the system is one of the best ways to crown a champion facilities round the truth that the 4 contenders within the Cup Collection this yr don’t lead in any statistical class.
Kyle Larson, who leads the sequence in wins (six), will not be one of many Championship 4 drivers. Christopher Bell, who leads the sequence within the top-10 finishes (22) and top-five finishes (14), can also be not amongst these 4 drivers.
However this isn’t a first-time prevalence. Martin Truex Jr. received the common season championship final yr however didn’t advance to Phoenix. Kevin Harvick received the common season championship and 9 races in 2020, but additionally didn’t make it to the championship race.
The criticism over which drivers need to be within the championship race has not gone unnoticed. NASCAR president Steve Phelps immediately addressed these feedback, with out being requested, in his opening remarks. Phelps stated the 4 drivers in every of the three nationwide sequence know the format and earned their spots at Phoenix Raceway.
“The format is the format,” Phelps stated. “We’re all the time trying (and) if there are alternatives for us to tweak one thing, so be it. We’re not the one sport the place the very best statistical staff doesn’t get to the ultimate 4 or the Tremendous Bowl or the World Collection. The format – there was an enormous emphasis 10 years in the past when the format was put into place about successful. Three of the 4 (drivers) on Sunday, they received to get by.
“I’m going again to (how) the format itself creates unimaginable racing. So if we’re all going to be trustworthy and say, ‘Hey, how’s the racing been in the course of the playoffs and these 9 weeks?’ I don’t suppose it’s ever been higher, and I feel a part of that’s as a result of system itself. They race their guts out. They did.”
Phelps talked about Tyler Reddick’s run at Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks in the past (primary picture). Reddick went from third to first on the ultimate lap to clinch his first Championship 4 look. The 23XI Racing driver can also be the common season champion.
Within the elimination race at Martinsville Speedway, Ryan Blaney received to earn his spot and can try to defend his championship on Sunday. Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and others all led laps and ran on the entrance within the closing laps as they wanted to win to advance.
“I feel it supplies nice, nice racing for our race followers,” Phelps stated.
The elimination format was launched in 2014. NASCAR launched stage racing and playoff factors to the format in 2017, which rewards an everyday season champion and seeds drivers primarily based on their efficiency within the first 26 races.
