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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NASCAR has been modified and changed several times. With its various different iterations, some have been more acceptable to certain drivers compared to others. Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin have been some of the biggest critics of its current one.
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The playoff system came to NASCAR in 2014. Possibly learning from the successes of other leagues, NASCAR thought of making the sport more attractive to younger generations and leaving the Championship undecided until the last race.
The new system had 16 cars competing for the final stage of the season, with the winner of the season decided based on the final 10 races. This made sense in a number of different aspects. It meant a season would always end on the last day, in effect meaning more viewership. Also, it will encourage and motivate drivers and teams to give it their all until the end of the season.
But legends of the sport, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin, were never big supporters of the system; not then, not now. Junior had said on his podcast with Brian France, “I’ve kinda struggled with how expanded the playoff feeled. And it’s happened at the Clash as well.”
He also said, “I’ve always kinda struggled with the final race being all or nothing.” Hamlin echoed Dale Jr’s views. “The round of 4 is great. I agree with @DaleJr that it should be a larger sample size however.”
This opposition has been going on for years, and a change looks unlikely.
Fans wrote Dale Earnhardt Jr’s opinion off
A lot of fans love the NASCAR legend. for his insights on racing, and for his general demeanor.
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
However, some fans were not quite happy with his stance on the subject.
But their rationale is flawed. EVERY pro sport has its final game that determines the champion. And EVERY team has the same amount of time to prepare for the final track. If you know you're not good at Phoenix start prepping now. No excuses that the track favors a certain team.
— MissBehave (@msbehave490) December 9, 2022
They don't like it because neither one of them have won a cup championship. https://t.co/vGbyqpEBP1
— Ricky Youmans (@RickyYoumans9) December 10, 2022
Denny had displeasure the 9 seasons before this too, when he didn’t win a championship. 18 seasons 0 ships. Cry https://t.co/jw8YE8fwJH pic.twitter.com/sYeNH4dtrL
— Michael Hall (@hallmr20) December 9, 2022
Sorry Hamlin, sorry Jr, but I don't want a Nascar season ending 3 or 2 races early like Formula 1 does.
It just makes the last few races rather pointless. 2003 got lucky cause Homestead changed it's track fully, so there was actual intrigue for that race. https://t.co/16HymwXgax
— Read Cyberpunk: Prolegomenon on AO3 🇵🇷 (@MesousaGaby) December 9, 2022
The World Series and NBA finals are a best of series. The Super Bowl is a one game take all. Both scenarios work for those sports. Meaning either way, a best of 3 or the current format would work for NASCAR. Either way is better than the past formats. Not really worth changing
— Exorcist of Stupidity (@JamieExorcistof) December 10, 2022
Every major American sport has a regular season and a playoff. The team with the most wins isn't guaranteed to win the championship and that's how it should be. Could the playoffs be executed better? Sure, but the playoff bracket is the most competitive way to have a playoff
— Zachary East 🇺🇸🔔 (@ZacharyEast12) December 9, 2022
2 guys without Cup championships. (At least Jr. won 2 in Busch.) I love the "game 7" moment of the final race. Change the track from year to year, OK, but the format is awesome.
— Glenn Geist (@AtheisticGG) December 10, 2022
I would suggest that the losers of the last 50 Super Bowls feel the same way. Many of them could have won a “2 out of 3” Championship Super Weekend.
— Les McCook (@jusrforher) December 9, 2022
Counting their combined titles.. let's see….
Yep.. same number as me.
— Ken Fox (@KenFoxTruth) December 9, 2022
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Do you agree with Dale Jr and Denny Hamlin?
Written by
Edited by
Akash Pandhare