“I just feel like the change is coming…I would say if I had to guess, we’re looking at probably a three- or four-race round to decide the title.” Those words from Dale Earnhardt Jr. in September captured the growing whispers around NASCAR’s postseason setup. The cries of the fans and the garage have constantly been shaking things up over all these years of debates around the current system. Finally, it looks like those cries are about to be answered.

It all started in 2003, when Matt Kenseth clinched the title with just one win, sparking the original Chase format in 2004 to boost excitement. Cut to today, NASCAR officials have listened to the buzz, with top voices like NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell stepping in to share thoughts.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s president, opened up on the Dale Jr. Download podcast about rethinking the playoff structure, hinting at ditching the one-race finale for something that values a fuller season’s effort.

He brought up driver Christopher Bell as a prime example, saying, “So what gets me to think about it is Christopher Bell, right? So a guy who will come in, have a conversation with me behind closed doors doesn’t go out and tweet about everything and say, ‘Hey, here’s what I think, here’s what I think.’ Just gives me an honest opinion, which I agree with of, ‘Hey man, if I roll off 10 wins, uh, in a year, right, and I go to one race, and a couple other guys get into me or whatever, and I’m not the champion.’”

This nods to frustrations seen in recent seasons, like when dominant runners like Kyle Larson in 2021 racked up 10 wins but still faced high-stakes risks in the Phoenix finale. The background here stems from the format’s evolution, after Kenseth’s consistent but low-win 2003 title led to the 2004 Chase, the 2014 updates added eliminations to amp up drama, yet critics argue it can sideline top performers due to bad luck in key races.

As mentioned in Jeff Gluck’s X post, O’Donnell also touched on preserving the thrill of big events without letting playoffs overshadow them, noting, “I think about the Daytona 500. I think about how big that race is. And one of the narratives is, ‘Oh, he’s in the playoffs.’ Man, it’s the Daytona 500, right? Yes. It’s in the playoffs. Like, you have to win. Nobody can question. I will argue till I’m blue in the face that the racing has changed in terms of if you got to win the race, some racing has changed. So there’s some of that element. I don’t want to go away.”

Steve O’Donnell on the playoff format:

— Nothing will be announced before end of season
— Thinks the current playoffs potentially hurt star power
— Doesn’t like that people talk about the playoffs when someone wins the Daytona 500
— NASCAR needs the drivers to buy into… https://t.co/7ewbMieHWV

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 8, 2025

This reflects ongoing talks since the 2017 tweak to a single championship race, where winners like Ryan Blaney in 2023 sealed titles amid chaos, but it often sparks debates on whether one track truly crowns the best. Probable changes could include expanding the final round to three or four races, as hinted in committee discussions, to create a bigger sample size and build superstars through sustained excellence.

Echoing this, NASCAR’s Mike Forde shared on the Hauler Talk podcast, “I would be very surprised if the one-race championship is still around. That was a big talking point of we need a bigger sample size if we’re going to keep the playoffs, and the championship needs to be more than one race.”

Forde’s words build on feedback from a playoff committee formed after the 2024 season, where drivers and teams pushed for less reliance on single-event outcomes. This ties back to historical shifts, like the 2011 points reset that aimed for tighter battles but sometimes frustrated fans with unpredictable champs, much like Joey Logano’s 2022 and 2024 titles despite fewer overall wins than peers.

With O’Donnell’s comments stirring the pot, it’s no surprise fans are chiming in online. Their takes range from hopeful to skeptical, showing just how much this topic hits home.

Fans’ take on playoff shifts

One fan expressed optimism about a return to basics, stating, “Okay, this is the first time I might believe we may get a 10-race chase/36 races.” This reaction stems from nostalgia for the original 2004 Chase format, which featured a 10-race sprint among the top drivers after 26 events, without eliminations. It resonates because that system rewarded a full-season body of work, much like Jimmie Johnson’s dominance in the mid-2000s, when he racked up multiple titles through consistent top finishes across those final races.

Shifting gears to another perspective, one commenter argued, adding, “Reality is the Chase format had the best championship battles between the best drivers out of any era in the sport. Should have never gone away from it.”

The sentiment points to the 2007-2013 era, when the top 12 drivers reset points with win bonuses, leading to tight fights like Tony Stewart‘s 2011 comeback with five victories in the Chase. Fans miss that intensity, especially compared to recent finals where underdogs like Joey Logano advanced via single wins.

“If there was any doubt they weren’t about to take a wrecking ball to the playoffs, then O’Donnell publicly saying stuff like this should erase any doubt lmao,” noted another observer. This captures the buzz from O’Donnell’s podcast appearance in September 2025, where his openness signaled real momentum for reforms.

Diving deeper, one voice shared intrigue: “Might be the first time I’ve seen someone in charge actually talk about negative effects the playoffs have caused. While I won’t count my chickens before they hatch, this is reassuring for now. I’m intrigued.” O’Donnell’s nod to these serious issues adds weight to the discussion and acts like a promise that changes are not far off.

Wrapping up the reactions, one fan speculated on specifics: “Sounds like at the very least they’ll get rid of ‘win and in’ based on the Daytona 500 comment. And if you’re worried about star power with the current playoffs, I don’t see how a different playoff format changes that. Here’s to hoping for full season points… seems it’s not dead yet.”

O’Donnell’s comment on Daytona 500 not being given its importance over playoffs is like a sign that the ‘win and you’re in’ format could be modified. Yet, the fan says star power is another issue that won’t be affected by this either way.