Over the past few years, NASCAR has faced mounting pressure from teams, drivers, and fans about whether the current playoff format truly rewards season-long consistency or just helps deliver spectacle. Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself has openly called the existing format “the hardest, most difficult way to win a championship.”

Meanwhile, rumors have floated about the sport testing changes in its lower tiers before deploying anything at the top Cup level. According to media tracking, the sanctioning body is indeed exploring options for 2026, but cautioned that no formal changes will be confirmed for the Cup Series until later.

And amid all this, Dale Jr has intrigued the fans further, as he stepped onto his podcast recently and revealed that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series are slated for “new championship formats” next year. The twist? He also hinted that the much-rumored “3-3-4” playoff structure, three races in Round 1, three in Round 2, then four in a final stretch, may not be on the table.

That indicates a shift away from the elimination rounds many associate with NASCAR’s modern playoff era. Whether that means a longer final round, more emphasis on cumulative points, or a hybrid model remains to be officially confirmed.

Adding to the story: NASCAR’s own communications echo similar signals. A recent report shows NASCAR has formed a working group including drivers, media, and OEMs to review the playoff/ championship format for 2026 and beyond. And in the schedule release for the O’Reilly Series, while the playoff setup stays “largely the same” for now, it’s noted that the finale returns to Homestead-Miami in 2026 and that tweaks are “not an indication the current system will stay forever.”

But why does it matter? These changes affect how the season flows from Daytona to the finale and how drivers approach strategy. The hint that 3-3-4 is unlikely suggests NASCAR might be testing formats progressively in the lower series before touching the top tier.

In short, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s revelation signals more than just tweaks; it suggests a potential directional shift in how NASCAR crowns champions, starting in the lower national series in 2026. While we wait for formal announcements, one thing is clear: the format conversation isn’t over, and the sport may be inching toward one of its most significant changes in decades. And fans on Reddit are already cooking up their theory.

Reddit unsold with format rumbles

One vocal fan wrote, “Don’t celebrate too fast. The new championship format doesn’t mean 36 races. It just means NASCAR could throw something even worse out there. Let’s wait until it’s confirmed.”

Earnhardt Jr. recently stated that he believes the current playoff setup is “the hardest, most difficult way to win a championship,” and acknowledged that a conversation about format change is happening. Meanwhile, NASCAR confirmed they’re forming a working group to evaluate potential changes for 2026.

Another comment focused on terminology: “While we’re at it, scrap the name playoffs, nobody’s playing anything, they are Chasing the Cup though.” The fan’s point echoes what Earnhardt Jr. articulated when he lamented the loss of season-long narrative, that under the elimination-style system, the regular season loses some meaning.

Whether NASCAR will rename or restructure the playoffs remains unconfirmed, and this fan’s skepticism reflects a broader unease about cosmetic changes masking deeper issues.

A third fan observed, “Hopefully I am overthinking this, but the fact that he only confirmed these two makes this a little odd. Almost sounds like they’re going to try it down there, then bring it to the Cup. Hope that this is more JR confirming that all the series will be changing formats.”

Indeed, Earnhardt Jr. discussed possible format changes in just Trucks and Xfinity for now, but suggested the conversation could affect how championships are determined across NASCAR’s national series. As of now, no formal announcements have been made regarding the Cup series.

A fourth fan took a more cynical view: “Whatever it is, I am sure it will be stupid and the worst outcome of it will happen immediately, like Cody Ware winning the title somehow.” While hyperbolic, the comment points to real concerns among fans that format reforms could lead to unintended consequences or perceived unfairness.

The frustration stems in part from past championships where consistency took a backseat and elimination luck played a significant role. Earnhardt Jr. referenced those frustrations when he discussed the current system.

Finally, a fan looking ahead predicted: “It will be a 10-race chase. Hopefully they get rid of win-and-in, but I’m not hopeful.” The current Cup Series format features 16 drivers, four rounds, and a final race to decide the champion, a structure in place since 2017.

As NASCAR weighs its options, fans speculate the “chase” could become shorter or more compressed. Earnhardt Jr. himself noted that a season-long points battle remains in the conversation, though he said its chances are “near zero.”

In short, with Earnhardt Jr. opening the door to format change, the discussions are real, but fans remain wary. Until NASCAR reveals specifics, the hope for improvement is real, but confidence is tempered by years of format tweaks and the potential for unexpected consequences.