As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs heat up, the chatter off the track is almost as loud as the engines. Rumor has it that NASCAR is considering shaking things up with a new playoff format for 2026. A 3-3-4 setup instead of the usual 3-3-3-1. That would mean two rounds of three races each before a four-race championship battle, a big shift from the win-or-go-home one-race finale we’ve all come to expect.

Fans are divided. Some love the idea of a longer, fairer fight; others think the drama of the one-race showdown is what makes the sport so thrilling. And right in the middle of it all? NASCAR drivers themselves. And among them is Bubba Wallace, who isn’t shy about sharing how he really feels about racing, pressure, and what truly matters.

Bubba Wallace’s honest take on the rumored NASCAR playoff format

Bubba Wallace sounded especially measured when asked about looming changes to the NASCAR playoff format. He said plainly: “You can leave me out of the format talks. If I have a contract and have a car and have a team all this stuff, I’m going to go race whatever it is and try to be the best of that.” But behind that calm exterior lies real concern. Not just about formats, but about the future of his seat and 23XI Racing itself.

Bubba Wallace’s confidence isn’t unfounded. In 2025, he’s currently fourth in the playoff standings with a +50 point cushion heading into the final race of the Round of 16. Performance-wise, he has one win (the Brickyard 400), 12 top-ten finishes, and four top-fives this season. But the bigger worry is the legal battle surrounding the charter system.

Jordan Bianchi has said that Wallace (and Tyler Reddick) lie in uncertainty amid the ongoing legal battle. “23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports made clear in their most recent filings what would happen if the teams lose their charters. They said they would be ‘out of business following the 2025 Cup Series season,” Bianchi said.

Still, Wallace stayed focused on what he can control. “It doesn’t matter what format it is. You were the best of that current format, so whatever format comes our way, just try to be the best at it.” That mindset is deeply rooted in his journey of over a decade in NASCAR. 2025 is only his second season making the playoffs (the first one being in 2023). Still, he knows the ceiling he’s capable of reaching. If you remember, Wallace finished 10th in the 2023 season. This year, he is determined to finish better.

“We’re paid to be the best, beat the rest, right? And once you do that, you become champion,” Wallace explained. So while Wallace may seem unshaken by playoff format debates, the forces around him are shifting. Between the legal risk to his team’s charter and the pressure that comes with racing for a title, this could be one of his hardest years yet. Even if he never says so.

NASCAR community shares its opinion of the playoff format

While Bubba Wallace isn’t interested in debating playoff formats, plenty of others in the garage certainly are. And they aren’t holding back. Some believe the current 3-3-3-1 setup overemphasizes a single race and undermines season-long performance. Others argue it creates the kind of drama that keeps fans glued to their screens. But mostly, the NASCAR community is welcoming the change.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been one of the most vocal critics of the current format and has asked for a change. On a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download, he said, “This format is more about being great on one singular day, the rest of the season be damned.” His point was aimed squarely at drivers like Joey Logano, who have been able to advance despite underwhelming regular-season results. Dale Jr.’s comments reignited the debate on whether one race should carry so much weight in crowning a champion.

Speaking of the new format, Chase Elliott sees merit in the rumored 3-3-4 change. “I think it would be better than what we have,” Elliott said during media availability at Bristol Motor Speedway. “You just have a larger amount of races to decide (the champion).” Elliott’s argument focuses on giving drivers a bigger sample size to prove themselves when the stakes are at their highest.

Chase Briscoe added his voice to the conversation, suggesting that a four-race finale would force drivers to be more well-rounded. “Whereas if it’s a three or four-race format, it’s not harder to win but you have to be more consistent and elevate your game for four weeks in a row,” Briscoe said. He noted that it would reduce the chances of one team benefiting disproportionately from Phoenix’s or Homestead-Miami’s layout.

As the chatter continues, NASCAR faces a key question. Should the playoffs reward consistent season-long excellence or continue to put everything on the line in a one-race winner-take-all showdown? Fans and drivers alike will be watching closely to see if this rumored change becomes reality.