NASCAR seems to be on the cusp of transition. Back in 2014, the sanctioning body announced a controversial playoff format, one that would keep fans on the edge of their seats, while boosting TV ratings at the same time. Back then, Brian France even said, “We have arrived at a format that makes every race matter even more, diminishes points racing, puts a premium on winning races and concludes with a best-of-the-best, first-to-the-finish line showdown race, all of which is exactly what fans want.” Fast forward to the present day, and the reality couldn’t be more different.

The very integrity of the sport is being questioned, especially when months of effort boil down to the outcome of just one race. Sure, the excitement of a winner-takes-all finale is undeniable, but aspects such as fairness, consistency, and rewarding season-long excellence are coming into review. As NASCAR navigates these concerns with a possible format change from 2026 onwards, an executive outlined the next steps the sport needs to take to get back the love of its fan base.

The criticism around the NASCAR playoffs

On the recent episode of the Hauler Talk podcast, Mike Forde, Senior Vice President of Communications, revealed that NASCAR’s playoff committee has been actively discussing changes. “I think we feel good about the direction and the possibilities here, because of the playoff committee and the work that they have done on the feedback they have got from the industry,” Forde said.

As per Forde, the challenge ahead is delicate. NASCAR must find a way to preserve the do-or-die thrill that makes the NASCAR playoffs so watchable. At the same time, they need to ensure that it doesn’t alienate fans and drivers who value merit and season-long excellence. It’s a balancing act between spectacle and sport, emotion and logic.

Meanwhile, Nate Ryan shared his opinion on the current NASCAR playoffs format. “The playoff certainly brings excitement, but there is concern about making sure it is legitimate, too.” And he isn’t wrong. The 2025 Phoenix Cup championship race highlighted his (and the majority of the NASCAR community’s) concerns perfectly.

Although Denny Hamlin had a superior overall season compared to Kyle Larson, with 6 wins, 14 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, and dominating much of that race too, he lost the championship to Larson. Why? Simply because he finished behind Larson in the final race, all because of one misjudged pitstop. Hamlin’s strong season stats emphasize the debate about whether one race should solely decide the championship.

Mike Forde echoed the sentiment, stating, “Whoever the 12-year-old wonder kid out there now looks at the Championship format at NASCAR and says, ‘You know what, I don’t like the fact that I can win 10 races like Connor did not win the championship. Let me look at F1. Let me look at IndyCar. I got this driving talent that can translate into other forms of racing. That is his [NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell] nightmare scenario.’”

Connor Zilisch faced a similar fate to Denny Hamlin in his 2025 season. Despite having a record-breaking 10 wins, 20 top-5s, and 23 top-10s, Zilisch lost out on the Xfinity (future O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) championship to Jesse Love after the Phoenix finale. Again, all because he came short during that one race. This, Forde believes, will definitely deter young talents from entering NASCAR as the current system doesn’t reward season-long dominance. Instead, it rewards perfection on one night.

The future may hold a playoff overhaul designed to better balance season-long performance with playoff drama, aiming to crown a champion that reflects both consistency and peak performance. However, no details have been made public yet. Still, the tone coming from NASCAR leadership suggests that something (hopefully positive) is brewing behind closed doors.

Shake-up for 2026 across all NASCAR series

Rumors have been swirling throughout the NASCAR garage about potential changes to the Cup Series playoff format for 2026. But what’s been less discussed is whether similar adjustments are in store for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) and the Truck Series. Thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr., we might now have an answer.

After a tough 2025 season finale, where JR Motorsports had three cars in championship contention only to see Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love take home the title, Dale Jr. found himself chatting with NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve O’Donnell. The conversation, as it turns out, may have confirmed what many had been speculating.

Sharing details on The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt Jr. said, “I’m excited about next year. We’re going to move the furniture around in the room and change some of the pieces on the chessboard, so to speak, to try to be in a better spot and get everybody happy. Through some things that we’re going to do, we’re going to have four drivers, hopefully, driving for a championship next year. We’ll have to see what the format is.”

While he admitted the details aren’t finalized, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hinted that the Xfinity and Truck Series could mirror whatever changes the Cup Series adopts. “I had an opportunity just by chance to exit the racetrack Saturday night with [Steve] O’Donnell, walking through the Cup garage as the 2 team were celebrating their championship,” he recalled.

“I said, ‘Hey, Steve, a lot of people are talking about the Cup stuff. We know that’s probably coming in terms of a change to the format. But nobody ever says a thing about the Xfinity or Truck, and I guess we’re all just assuming that whatever happens to Cup, something similar will happen.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, something similar will happen.’”

If O’Donnell’s comments and Dale Jr.’s revelations hold, fans could be witnessing a series-wide playoff overhaul come 2026.