“One race is just not the way to do it,” Denny Hamlin had said earlier in July. This came after rumors began swirling around NASCAR’s playoff format for 2026, suggesting the sport could be on the brink of a major shift and sparking fresh debate across the garage and fan base. Hamlin pointed to NBC’s influence in shaping the playoff format and emphasized why creating a bigger sample size for the crown is important. Now, Richard Petty is echoing that same viewpoint.

While some might dismiss Hamlin’s opinion, given he hasn’t yet won a championship, Petty’s perspective carries decades of authority. His seven Cup Series championships between 1964 and 1979 were awarded based on total points accumulated across the full season; a system that rewarded consistency, reliability, and endurance, rather than peaking for a handful of races.

Looking back, Matt Kenseth’s 2003 championship was the catalyst for “The Chase.” Kenseth won the title with just one race victory but 25 top-ten finishes, proving that steady performance alone could claim the crown. The Chase continued and became the Playoffs. Today, that structure has drawn criticism for overshadowing season-long performance. And, Richard Petty, as usual, remains a vocal critic.

Addressing a fan’s question, “Would you rather have the 10-race Chase format or the playoffs?” Petty said, “I still think that to have a champion of NASCAR, that is a year-long championship. It’s not a one-race championship; it’s not a four-race championship. If we run 36 races, who is the best out of those 36? They should be the champion.”

Richard Petty‘s sentiment strikes at the heart of an ongoing debate: should a driver’s entire season, with all its ups and downs, dictate who hoists the trophy, or is it fair to let a handful of races define a championship? And, the recent examples highlight this tension.

• Let’s take Ryan Blaney’s 2023 season: Despite winning only one race during the regular season (Charlotte), Blaney’s consistent performance allowed him to qualify for the playoffs, where he captured two more wins (Talladega and Martinsville) and ultimately the championship.
• Joey Logano, 2024: After a challenging regular season with only one race win, Logano surged in the playoffs, winning three of the ten playoff races and claiming the Championship at Phoenix.

While their clutch playoff performances were celebrated, critics argue these examples underscore how the current format allows a championship to be decided over just a few key races, rather than rewarding season-long excellence.

While Petty’s perspective reminds the sport of its roots, Joey Logano defends NASCAR.

Joey Logano challenges Richard Petty’s take on the playoff format

Logano has been a vocal defender of NASCAR’s playoff system, especially after the intense drama of recent races, such as him narrowly making it to the next round after finishing ahead of Ross Chastain at Charlotte Roval. Despite facing criticism from fans and fellow drivers, Logano insists that the playoffs add excitement and suspense that keep fans engaged.

“The playoffs create drama,” Logano emphasized after the Charlotte Roval race. “They create storylines. They create awesome moments like that. I don’t understand what people don’t like about it. I really don’t get it.”

He also pointed out that every point matters under the current format, stating, “If you’re one of those people who say the regular season doesn’t matter, playoff points don’t matter, one point would have been the difference there. I preach that all the time. I’m not just saying that because it works for us. I’m saying it because it’s true.”

“If you don’t have cutoff races and things like that, what are you even talking about today? How Shane (van Gisbergen) waxed everyone’s bu–? That’s what you want? I’m just saying, this playoff format is wicked,” Logano said, as he responded to critics who want the sport to prioritize full-season consistency over playoff drama.

Further acknowledging there are areas for simplification in the points system, he said, “Times change…I don’t know if you have a lot of the moments we have today without the playoff system that we have.”

In essence, where Richard Petty is still, after so many years, valuing consistency and the grind, Logano prefers drama and clutch performance.