Love it or hate it, the playoff format has been the hottest topic in NASCAR all year. The elimination-style, winner-take-all setup didn’t swing in Denny Hamlin’s favor as he came heartbreakingly close to clinching his elusive Cup Series championship, adding even more fuel to the ongoing playoff debate. As the postseason takes over, the NASCAR community impatiently waits for the promised playoff changes.

For those who are longing for the old point system, it’s worth remembering that it was Matt Kenseth’s 2003 championship that sparked the first major changes. From the introduction of the chase format for today’s high-stakes elimination rounds, the playoff system has evolved through controversy, drama, and debates, always keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

The championship that changed everything

It all happened 20 years ago on November 9, 2003. Matt Kenseth finally claimed his first NASCAR Winston Cup championship after a tense fourth-place finish in the Pop Secret 400, giving both himself and car owner Jack Roush the long-awaited glory they had chased for years. Kenseth had grabbed the points lead in just the fourth race of the season and never let it go. Even as his lead grew, he admitted the pressure kept building, each race feeling heavier than the last.

Behind the wheel of the No. 17 DeWalt Power Tools Taurus, he posted one win, 11 top fives, and an impressive 25 top-ten finishes. Bill Elliott might have won the race that day, but all eyes were on Kenseth as he became the first Ford driver to win the championship since Dale Jarrett in 1999.

When he finally locked in the title with a race remaining, Kenseth’s words reflected both relief and awe. He said, “It’s unbelievable. This is beyond my wildest dreams. I never thought I’d ever have the opportunity to sit in one of these cars, much less be the champion. I’m just so appreciative to my team, my owners, my sponsors, everybody that puts this thing together. I’m just real lucky.”

What made Kenseth’s season historic wasn’t just his steady climb; it was how it reshaped the sport. Winning a championship with just one race victory sent NASCAR’s new CEO, Brian France, rethinking the point system, leading to the creation of the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.

Suddenly, a playoff-style showdown over the final 10 races became the new norm. Fans grumbled at first, missing the old, straightforward point system, but Kenseth’s consistent brilliance closed out the Winston Cup era and kicked off the NEXTEL Cup era, with Roush Racing bookending the transition, Kenseth with the final Winston Cup crown, and teammate Kurt Busch taking the first NEXTEL Cup in 2004.

Even years later, Kenseth’s 2003 season resonates. It was a story of consistency of flash, a quiet dominance that shook up NASCAR. The evolution of the playoff system has since gained a lot of criticism. The winner-take-all finale has been scrutinized by veterans like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, and many more who believe that season-long consistency should be rewarded.

Would Denny Hamlin have won the title this year had it not been for the playoff system? It’s hard to tell, but what we do know is that he had the most consistent season, claiming victory 6 times this year. NASCAR fans came together, regardless of their support for him, as they sent out heartfelt messages for Denny Hamlin, and even his wife penned down a heartbreaking note. But with Kyle Larson winning the 2025 NASCAR Cup Championship, the 33-year-old also shared his opinion on the 2026 playoff format.

Kyle Larson speculates on the 2026 playoff changes

By September 2025, the playoff committee had wrapped up a series of meetings and hinted at a likely end to the single-race championship format. NASCAR is expanding a broad sample of races to determine the champion, moving away from a one-race, winner-take-all showdown between four drivers. Details such as the size of the championship field, the number of races included, or elimination round changes remain unannounced, leaving drivers and fans eager for clarity.

Now, Kyle Larson is at the center of speculation over potential changes to the playoff system for 2026. Larson shares his thoughts on the Rubbin is Racing podcast, addressing what an ideal championship format might look like. On the topic of changes, he admitted honestly, “I don’t think there’s ever a clear 100 % … perfect format that everybody in the world is going to agree on…could win 20 races and not win the championship. But I think what we can all agree on, Sunday maybe it proved, we need more than one race … whether that is 36, or 10, or 4, or whatever the number is. It should be more than one.” 

The NASCAR committee has suggested that a larger set of places would offer a fairer and more comprehensive test for title contenders. Larson, while unsure of the exact format, acknowledged the inevitable compromise, saying, “I haven’t heard exactly what the for sure format is, but I think whatever it’s going to be, it’s going to be a compromise, a good compromise to what everybody sort of wants.”

Officials have confirmed that no major announcements will come until after the 2025 season concludes. For now, drivers, teams, and fans are cautiously optimistic, hoping for a balanced system that rewards seasonal excellence while keeping the intensity in the drama the playoffs are known for.