NASCAR: Five Big Reasons Fans Are Leaving The Sport

The Chase

Was there really any doubt that this would be on the list? It’s no secret that a lot of older fans despise NASCAR’s new playoff format, although it has arguably made the end of the season more exciting than ever before. Despite the excitement, older fans see the Chase as just another reason for them to give up on the sport that they once loved. In fact, some would say this is the biggest reason for fans leaving the sport in droves.

Why though? Why would NASCAR fans resist the sports attempt to go mainstream and make the racing product more popular than ever before? Sure, the format goes against the very nature of how champions were crowned in the sports past, but it’s not like fans enjoyed the old way of determining a champion very much either.

In fact, by the time Matt Kenseth won his first championship in 2003 after only winning one race and focusing more on consistency than winning, NASCAR and its fans knew it was time for the sport to make the end of the season more competitive and exciting. Thus the original Chase was born and the format has been evolving ever since.

Unfortunately for NASCAR, the playoff format has gotten mixed reviews ever since it was announced and its newest version, a three-round, 16-driver knockout competition to determine a champion, is usually described as a poor attempt at manufacturing excitement at the end of the season. With that being said, this is probably one of the few times that the fault doesn’t fully sit with NASCAR.

Sure, NASCAR made the format to create a more exhilarating playoff experience for fans, but only because fans were unhappy with the way the championship was being determined in the first place. It was no secret that fans were upset with the runaway championship winners of the past and were even more tired of Jimmie Johnson coasting to championships under the new system, forcing NASCAR to make the change.

So complain all you want NASCAR fans. Threaten to leave the sport and never watch a NASCAR race again. This is your bed and it’s quite frankly it’s time you suck it up and just lay in it. You created this.

Next: Making up rules as you go?