A collective sigh of relief might be underway for the fans as the likely return of the Nextel Cup Chase format gains momentum. Mike Forde is more than clear now: “I would be very surprised if the one-race championship is still around.” After Joey Logano’s 2024 Cup Championship, which came coupled with the worst average finish, the playoff format was under fire. This resulted in NASCAR considering a return to the full-season point system, a method last used in 2003. Can this be the final solution NASCAR needs for its woes?

When the Championship Format Committee first met in February, only one member proposed scrapping the playoff entirely. By the committee’s most recent session on September 17, the idea had gained significant support, with multiple key figures advocating for a return to the traditional system. Other than the committee still favoring some portion, the tweaks are being discussed to address long-standing criticism of the current format. And now The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi is here for it.

Speaking on PRN Live, Jordan Bianchi said, “And I think ultimately, I think you can hit on a championship here that gives everybody a little bit of what they want. You know, you can give fans who clamor for the season-long championship. Okay, we’re not going to do that, but we can give you a championship that still is, you know, multi-race and kind of gives you that feel for it…”

“But you can also still have the excitement and the drama of the playoffs and winning and advancing or a team that, you know, getting hot at the right time and just coming through like Tony Stewart in 2011 or Joey Logano last year that just rises up and grabs that championship by the throat because they’re going to go take it. Those kind of moments, I think you can still have. I feel like the direction that NASCAR’s headed in is going to be a good balance for that.”

To avoid a winner-take-all championship win like Tony Stewart‘s in 2011 and Joey Logano’s 2024 controversial championship, proposals on the table include adjusting how playoff points are awarded. Further, increasing the value of wins or reconstructing the final championship round is also important. Some suggest a four-race finale that strikes a balance, maintaining high stakes while rewarding consistent performance. At the same time, track presidents note that fan engagement spikes during playoff events, highlighting the appeal of a dramatic, elimination-style format.

More importantly, the debate underscores the tension between tradition, spectacle, and NASCAR. A full-season point system rewards consistency and provides a clear-cut path to crowning a champion across 36 races. In contrast, the playoff format injects drama, storylines, and fan interest into the season’s closing weeks. Discussions are ongoing with NASCAR officials, including managing director of communication Mike Forde, who stressed that no decision will be finalized until after this year’s champion is crowned at Phoenix on November 2.

He said, “We don’t want to announce a format prior to Phoenix and then have everyone either devalue this year’s championship or sort of make another set of points of who would be the champion if a new format were in place.” The choice would shape not only future champions but also define the experience of teams, drivers, and fans for years to come.

But amid this exciting news, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace sounds off on the old playoff format.

Kenny Wallace warns NASCAR fans against a return to the old playoff format

While many veteran fans advocate for a return to the 36-race cumulative point system, most drivers prefer a championship structure that preserves balance and ongoing competition. TV executives, meanwhile, push performance that maximizes on-track drama. Kenny Wallace, former driver and analyst, warns that reverting to older methods may not solve the deeper issues the sport faces on race day. Amid Kenny Wallace sounding off on the fans complaining about NASCAR TV partnerships regarding the playoff, Wallace cautioned supporters of the old system.

He says, “Be careful what you ask for. So, I’m going to challenge all of you right now. You’re saying, I don’t watch NASCAR because I don’t like the point system. That’s one of the things you say, besides, I don’t watch NASCAR because I don’t like the car… okay, it’s 2026 right now. It’s next year. ‘All right, I’m going to watch the races because the points have changed. Man, look at the cars. Oh, wow. Man, the points have changed.’ What the f— does the points have to do with the racing on the racetrack?”

Wallace’s warning highlights a key concern: simply bringing back the full season point system, sometimes called the Mark Martin rule, would not automatically produce the exciting, action-packed racing that some discontented fans are seeking. The thrill of NASCAR isn’t dictated solely by points; it comes from the on-track battles, strategy, and drama that unfold lap after lap.

Expanding on this perspective, Wallace points to stage racing in the current playoff framework as a crucial driver of aggressive competition. He added, “Right now, they’re racing harder because it’s broke up in sections. You got the first stage. You race hard. You win. You get 10 bonus points. Second gets nine… You can win more points in stages than you can simply racing for your end points… Right now, the drivers are running hard in stages so they can get those points.” 

He said that without stage racing in a playoff format, there would likely be a noticeable decline in intensity and strategic aggression throughout each race, leaving fans with less compelling action before the checkered flag. And now, as the community gears up for a long-awaited change, all eyes will be on the new playoff format.