The final lap at Daytona signaled the closing chapter for Cup drivers to secure their playoff berths. Amidst a tapestry of surprises where unlikely contenders found themselves in the playoff spotlight, some anticipated stars faltered. This plot twist, a hallmark of the 2023 Cup Series, left heads spinning.

Unsurprisingly, it seems not every team took this turn of events in stride. Case in point: a prominent NASCAR team president took center stage on the DBC podcast, delivering statements laden with controversy about the playoff rounds. His remarks stirred waves among the devout NASCAR followers.

“It only should be winners”, One of the team presidents expressed concerns over NASCAR playoff standards

Since the dawn of NASCAR’s age, the playoff landscape has undergone a transformation, evolving from an elite top 10, gradually broadening its horizons to accommodate a robust top 12, and eventually blossoming into a field of top 16 contenders. The expansion, while ensuring no one was left out of the race, concurrently amplified the odds of each pilot’s championship aspirations.

The original cast of the top 10 was chosen based on historical precedent, a tale of data revealing that no driver beyond this threshold with 10 races remaining had ever ascended to claim the coveted title. The year 2014 marked the inception of the elimination rounds, dovetailing with the rise to the top 16 echelons.

Nevertheless, the voice of Chris Rice, president of the Kaulig Racing team, on the DBC podcast alongside Freddie Kraft and Brett Griffin resonated with a novel tune. In his view, “I think it only should be winners.”

Rice juxtaposed motorsport grandeur with football and baseball, contemporaries on the calendar’s canvas, asserting, “The Giants can’t make it to the Super Bowl by losing by one point. But they pointed their way in. That’s my opinion, and I have been very vocal about that. I think you should win to be in the playoffs to be able to go for the championship.”

Recalling the instance of AJ Allmendinger from the Xfinity Series of yesteryear, sporting an impressive average of 6.6 yet finding himself outside the final four contenders, Rice asserted, “You needed to win. Those guys have done a better job leading up to the final four. We didn’t deserve to be in there.”

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Expounding further, Rice offered candid self-reflection, disclosing that he himself felt undeserving of playoff privileges. His rationale stems from a deeper ethos: he’d rather take 17th place on the points chart than languish at the bottom of the playoff barrel.

Yet Rice’s utterances found themselves on the receiving end of the NASCAR faithful’s collective judgment. The consensus? Drawing parallels between two distinct sporting realms, each etched with unique formats, might be a venture fraught with disparity.

Fans push back: “The analogy to The NFL just doesn’t work,” defending the playoff format

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NASCAR enthusiasts, known for their candid fervor for standing up for their sport, have rallied to respond. While opinions on the current playoff arrangement, in contrast to the pre-2004 era, vary widely, those who embrace the current model are more than willing to spar with critics who deem it unjust.

In the aftermath of Chris Rice’s clarion call for a winners-only playoff, a chorus of voices joined the rally, echoing sentiments like, “Yup. 10 to start. These are the best in the world supposedly. Let’s act like it and not let half the field in to start the Playoffs,”

“Yes, if they are gonna have a “playoff” it only needs to be 10 cars, determined by the top 10 in points at the end of 26 races. win and you’re in is bs. Should reward consistency over fluke wins by a 30th place car.”

However, others rallied behind the current NASCAR playoff structure:

“Winning is fun, but can sometimes be flukey. Id rather have drivers that consistently perform in the playoffs… Last year truex and blaney were top 5 in points, and if it wasnt for kurts injury both wouldve missed playoffs”

“I think now we have the best playoff system we’ve ever had in terms of playoff points from every stage and race win carrying you through each round, but I would like to see 12 drivers making the show and the championship being decided by at least 3 races like a normal round.”

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Furthermore, a salvo of dissenting voices underscored that the comparison between football and NASCAR falls short due to the inherent dissimilarities in their essence. They opined, “The analogy to the NFL just doesn’t work.”

You don’t play one-on-one, it’s completely different. The format now is pretty good. I would still like to see a ‘wild card’ match race between the last two drivers to make it in. 4 lap shootout/takeout!”

“Absolutely not. Stop comparing racing to ball sports and trying to force it to be one. They’re not the same.”

“The Giants also aren’t going to have the Rams tackle one of their players when they’re playing against the Eagles. I’m sorry but I just can’t take the racing to football comparisons seriously.”

Verily, this rings true. The essence of these sports and their inherent characteristics make direct comparisons of their formats impractical. Still, weigh in with your perspective in the comments below. Do you prefer the current “Chase” format or the earlier one that reigned before Matt Kenseth’s 2003 triumph?