Joey Logano’s recent win in the NASCAR Cup Series has stimulated debate about the appropriateness of NASCAR’s playoff style format. While all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers finished ahead of Logano in the regular-season standings, it was Logano who emerged victorious, causing some to question whether a full-season points system should be adopted instead. Despite having only one win in the regular season, Logano thrived in the 10-race playoffs and credits his success to the team’s ability to understand and take advantage of the rules.
NASCAR first introduced its playoff system in 2004, a time when eligibility for the title was based on points earned over the final 10 races. This was different from the traditional full-season points system and was termed “The Chase.” Today’s elimination-style format was introduced a decade later and depended on the points accumulated during three-race rounds. Wins automatically qualify a driver for the next round, and remaining drivers advance on points, which can also be boosted by bonus points from round to round based on regular-season performance.
Logano isn’t the first driver to win a championship under these rules and face backlash from fans who believe that he didn’t have a championship-worthy season. In defense of the current playoff system, Logano asserted that it is not much different from that of other sports, as it follows the model wherein a strong regular season merely improves seeding for the playoffs and guarantees nothing beyond that. Logano pointed out that despite various debates on the subject, everyone begins the season aware of the rules.
The Team Penske has been particularly successful under these regulations. For three consecutive years (Logano in 2022, Ryan Blaney in 2023, and Logano again in 2024), drivers from Team Penske have secured the Cup title. However, with the introduction of the Next Gen car, NASCAR now requires teams to acquire most parts from single-sourced suppliers, eliminating the opportunity to develop unique parts for the playoff races.
Despite constant discussions regarding the format of the championship, NASCAR has made it clear that the playoff-style format isn’t going anywhere. While maintaining that they will review the form of the playoffs in the postseason, NASCAR COO Steve Phelps asserted that the quality of racing delivered by the playoffs cannot be disputed. He indicated that while NHL might consider changes to the format, the concept of playoffs was here to stay.
Notwithstanding, the success of Team Penske under NASCAR’s current playoff format and the debate it has triggered amongst fans and other teams will continue to lead discussions on the composition of the championship. This topic, together with the recent introduction of the Next Gen car and the potential impacts on team strategies, generates an exciting environment for the future of NASCAR racing.
