As two different motorsport worlds collide, a familiar voice from the NASCAR scene heads back to his Australian roots for the Supercars Grand Final in Adelaide. The Supercars event packs high-stakes drama with its new finals format, drawing eyes from the NASCAR world, where similar systems have ignited endless debates.

As NASCAR enters its off-season, talk of tweaking the current playoff setup grows louder with each passing day. The speculation grows louder because of the nature of the current format, which puts too much emphasis on the single final race. Yet amid all the talks and the suggestions about the playoffs, one veteran’s candid take tries to paint the true playoff picture.

Leigh Diffey sounds alarm on NASCAR’s fading playoff magic

Leigh Diffey, NBC Sports’ lead NASCAR Cup Series play-by-play voice since 2024, has seen it all from the booth over a decade of calling the series. Speaking to FOX Sports ahead of Sandown, he said, “The general consensus is that the majority don’t enjoy having one race that determines it all. There’s been plenty of great champions crowned…but maybe it’s had its shelf life, maybe it’s lived out a term in this current format

What started as a 10-race points reset for top drivers post-2003 season had now evolved into a 3-3-3-1 race elimination-style bracket by 2014, where 16 drivers enter the playoffs, and on every third race, four drivers get eliminated, and for the final one race, the final four drivers run for the title. The issue with this is that it all comes down to one race finale where the most consistent driver may lose the title, like Denny Hamlin and Connor Zilisch this season.

Now, as he preps for Supercars duties in Adelaide from November 27 to 30, Diffey is blunt about the playoff grind that’s defined NASCAR since its 2004 debut as “The Chase.” This hits at the core gripe: after 20 years of tweaks, from 12 drivers in 2007 to four in the final round, now fans crave balance over chaos.

.@LeighDiffey: “The general consensus is that the majority don’t enjoy having one race that determines it all. There’s been plenty of great champions crowned…but maybe it’s had its shelf life, maybe it’s lived out a term in this current format.” https://t.co/DLvcWxufxn

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) November 14, 2025

Jimmie Johnson‘s five straight titles (2006-2010) shone bright, but instances like Kyle Busch’s 2015 win after missing early races fueled backlash. NASCAR eyes 2026 changes, like a three- or four-race championship decider, to ease the “one bad day ends it” sting.

Diffey doubles down, warning Supercars off the same path. “Supercars would not be making a smart decision to introduce the widely scorned winner-takes-all final race that decides the NASCAR championship,” he said in an interview. Here, he draws from scars like 2024’s $600,000 fines for race manipulation attempts at Martinsville Speedway, where teams manipulate outcomes to decide who gets into the playoffs.

Unlike Supercars’ points-based finale over three races, NASCAR’s single-race climax is thrilling for neutrals and punishing for hardcore fans who value season-long grit. Diffey’s words land heavy as playoff fatigue simmers, but his ties to the craft run deeper still.

Diffey honors mentor John Laws’ lasting echo

In a heartfelt X post after John Laws’ passing on November 9 at age 90, Diffey remembered the radio icon who shaped his early dreams. Laws, who kicked off in 1953 at regional stations before his velvet tones conquered Sydney airwaves for seven decades, faced early doubters over his voice, much like the hurdles Diffey cleared from Queensland classrooms to global booths.

“The man with the golden mic & velvet voice. Such a big inspiration to me when I was young & fascinated by radio/tv I would drive my Mum crazy by mimicking his famous line, ‘Hello world’. He was told he’d never make it, didn’t have the right voice … I know who won! RIP Mr Laws,” Diffey wrote.

This nod traces back to Diffey’s kid days, mimicking Laws’ signature greeting in a fun way while dreaming of a mic of his own. Laws’ resilience has risen from “never make it” jabs to national treasure status, which also mirrors Diffey’s arc, from V8 Supercars calls in 1997 to Indy 500 leads and now NASCAR‘s front row.

Laws’ influence lingers in Diffey’s smooth verbal delivery, a quiet force amid racing’s fast-paced world. As Diffey returns home, that inspiration fuels fresh chapters.