NASCAR’s current playoff system, which was rolled out in 2014, continues to kick off endless debates in the garage. Locking 16 drivers into a 10-race chase, the rule guarantees a playoff spot with a single win, no matter how the driver performed the rest of the season. A couple of months ago, Richard Petty infamously gave it the “you win and you’re in” name in one of his comments, and that name has given a stronger perspective on the problems associated with it.

In June, Richard Petty said, “The way they got this thing fixed, if you win and you’re in, that can’t be right. From the standpoint that you got somebody, like I say, that’s 30th in the points that’s going to make the playoffs. Hey man, what happened to the guy that’s 15th or 16th or 18th? Been running good, finished good everywhere.” His words echo frustrations from the system’s 2014 debut, meant to boost excitement but often pitting flash over endurance. Shane van Gisbergen fits this mold, too; his four road-course wins got him in as a rookie, yet oval woes raise questions about true competitiveness.

That argument intensified after the recent Daytona regular-season finale, where a dramatic last-lap shake-up reshaped the 16-driver field. Critics point to examples this year and last where part-time winners or drivers with otherwise middling seasons punched playoff tickets and, in some fans’ eyes, bumped out drivers who produced steadier results across 26 races. Take Shane van Gisbergen, who grabbed four road-course victories but struggled on ovals, securing his spot. Is this fair? And amidst this, let’s take a look at a newer issue that has come to light.

The new issue in discussion boils down to underdog wins not getting the celebration they deserve, as their playoff spots can sour the fan experience by weakening the field. Drivers like Chris Buescher, who sat 17th in points with 13 top-10s but no wins, missed out, while Austin Dillon, locked in with his Richmond victory despite a rough year, highlighted how single triumphs trump steady performance.

Amidst this new discussion, a Reddit post sharing a Fansided piece titled “NASCAR’s flawed playoff system takes the fun out of underdog wins” stirred up reactions, showing what fans feel about these shifts.

Fans feel sympathy for the underdogs

“100% agreed. Brock Beard said it best. A win basically can’t be its own thing anymore. It’s all in relation to the title and playoffs. You can’t accept the little things anymore for what they are. It doesn’t diminish the win… but it just makes things annoying when it’s ‘oh but championship.’” This taps into how wins like Harrison Burton‘s 2024 Daytona triumph, marking Wood Brothers’ 100th, got overshadowed by playoff chatter. Fans wanted pure joy, but the system’s tie to titles turned focus to “what ifs” on contention.

Another chimed in: “I totally agree with this one. Look at Dillon’s win. You’ve got over half the fanbase b—ing that he’s a waste of a playoff spot (he is) when we could just be celebrating the fact that someone new won a race. Same thing with Harrison Burton last year.” Dillon‘s 2025 Richmond upset, his first win since 2022, drew backlash for bumping consistent drivers like Buescher. Burton’s 2024 breakthrough similarly split opinions, shifting cheers to gripes over field quality.

“I do get frustrated every time there’s an upset winner; the booth immediately goes off about welcome to the playoffs instead of truly celebrating what just happened. Harrison Burton’s win last year is a great example.” Broadcasts often pivot to playoff implications, as seen in Burton’s emotional victory, his first Cup win, but commentary fixated on his berth, diluting the raw thrill for viewers rooting for surprises.

Someone noted, “He’s not totally wrong. When the topic of Harrison Burton’s Daytona win comes up, more people are likely to get angry about it than think it was cool (online people, not real people). Despite the fact that it was WBR’s 100th win. I guarantee if that win had come in the fall, at Talladega, it would’ve gotten a lot less hate.” Online forums buzzed with ire over Burton’s spot, overlooking Wood Brothers’ milestone, unlike a non-playoff Talladega win that might have sparked pure praise.

Finally, a fan shared, “I really hate that I now root against the underdog teams. We shouldn’t have a bad taste in our mouth when those teams win. We should be happy. Trevor Bayne winning the Daytona 500 was awesome, and so was Regan Smith winning Darlington. It was a big deal because it was a big deal. It wasn’t a big deal because of postseason.” Pre-playoff era gems like Bayne’s 2011 Daytona 500 upset or Smith’s 2011 Darlington triumph stood alone as triumphs, free from playoff baggage that now flips fan loyalties.