The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule featured a notable emphasis on road courses, with 5 such events planned. Among these, the COTA in Austin, Texas, was set to debut a modified “National” layout, reducing track length from 3.41 miles to 2.3 miles, thereby increasing the race length from 68 laps to 95. But the problem arose when road courses were included in the playoff format, with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway underperforming in the Round of 12, according to fans and insiders.

The road course expert, Shane van Gisbergen, clinched his first Cup Series playoff victory at this event, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of road course racing. Tyler Reddick, despite securing the pole position, could not keep the lead, while tire wear and pit road mishaps sparked discussions about the role of road courses in the playoff format. While SVG’s victory was celebrated, it also raised questions about the balance between traditional oval races and the increasing presence of road courses, with some insiders opining that they ‘don’t need road courses in the playoffs.’

Why NASCAR insiders are questioning the role of road courses in the playoff schedule

In their Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed the need for oval racing to be given more importance than road courses in the playoffs. The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have been marked by intense drama and emotional moments. “We all agree that there was a long time in NASCAR history where you would have said, ‘three mile-and-a-half tracks in a row? Ugh.. Oh my gosh, let’s get something.’ I personally don’t need any road course in the playoffs… You want to put Watkins Glen or something else in there. All right. But like, to me, you’re talking about going back to the roots and getting at its core and all that stuff,” Gluck said.

This sentiment reflects a broader discussion about balancing tradition with innovation in the sport. Additionally, some fans have also voiced their opinions on social media forums, suggesting that road courses may not provide the same level of excitement or authenticity as oval races. And Gluck added to that sentiment, saying, “NASCAR is the elite pavement oval racing on the planet. IndyCar has some great races for sure, but NASCAR, that is the core brand. Pavement oval racing. It’s amazing. Like, it’s freaking bad–s. So, the more we can see that, especially in playoff time, the better.”

Road courses were a rarity in the early days of NASCAR, with Riverside International Raceway in California being one of the few exceptions, hosting races intermittently. The introduction of road courses into the schedule was a gradual process, with Riverside becoming a regular fixture in the 1960s and 1970s. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that road courses began to gain more prominence, culminating in their inclusion in the playoff format in the 2010s. With fewer street courses in the 2026 schedule, Gluck heaved a satisfactory sigh, “I think the oval’s bad–s, so I’d love to see that.”

The two insiders then reminisced about the glory of oval battles. Bianchi noted, “Think of how, in the last few laps of the 600, Byron and Chastain were hanging out there. They were fighting their car, trying to set each other up and all this stuff. And then you had the playoff drama and everything else. Like, that is putting yourself in a position to say, ‘this is what we do best. This is who we are.'” In the closing laps of the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, William Byron, who had dominated the race by leading 283 of the 400 laps, was overtaken by Ross Chastain with 6 laps remaining.

Chastain’s maneuver, diving below Byron’s Chevrolet entering Turn 1 and sliding up in Turn 2 to clear Byron off the corner, was a masterclass in precision and timing. Bianchi further noted, “Talk about quality marketing campaigns that are going on or being talked about right. That’s your marketing campaign. Two guys, going fast, full-tired, hanging out there on a classic track, battling it out for their championship and livelihood… That’s how you get people to say, ‘you know what, that was pretty bad–s.'” And that is exactly what fans look for in other races as well, setting expectations higher in each passing round.

The debate over road courses highlights NASCAR’s ongoing dilemma to balance tradition, excitement, and playoff strategy for fans. But NASCAR’s choices in return might be the reason for an even bigger issue.

NASCAR insiders warn against TV ratings plunging amid NFL competition

NASCAR’s TV ratings are in a noticeable decline, with the 2025 Cup Series averaging just 2.52 million viewers per race, a drop of nearly 13% from last year. The first 4 playoff events performed worse, averaging only 1.56 million viewers, a 17% decrease compared to 2024. Some tracks, like New Hampshire, experienced audience losses exceeding 30% amounting to nearly 14 million viewers gone in a single year. “Football, I think, is a major problem for us racing against the football season,” spotter Freddie Kraft admitted, highlighting the challenge of competing with NFL broadcasts during NASCAR’s critical autumn weeks.

The decline is fueled not just by scheduling conflicts but by fan dissatisfaction. “31.3% say the playoff format sucks,” critics note, complaining that the elimination style undermines season-long consistency. The 2024 season exemplified this, as Joey Logano captured the championship despite a poor playoff run, thanks to his Phoenix win. Fans are also unhappy with the cars themselves, with 31% saying, “the car is awful,” citing reduced passing, mechanical parity, and lack of driver influence. April’s Bristol race illustrated the problem, with Kyle Larson leading a record 411 laps but only 4 lead changes overall.

Another barrier is broadcast accessibility. “14.2% say too hard to find, which is on USA,” Kraft explained, pointing to fans switching between cable and streaming platforms. Experts argue that addressing car performance and streamlining accessibility could restore fan interest, but warn that a string of unexciting races risks breaking viewer habits permanently.