NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons

NASCAR introduced the playoffs in the Cup Series back in 2004 and in the Xfinity and Truck Series last season. Some fans like them, while some don’t. What are some of the pros and cons of the playoffs?

The NASCAR playoffs were introduced as “The Chase for the Championship” back in the 2004 season and have been used even since in the Cup Series. Last season, the Xfinity and Truck series adopted versions of these playoffs to use in their series as well. They are now known simply as the “Playoffs”.

The current playoff format is a four-round format that includes a total of 10 races. A total of 16 drivers qualify for the first round. All drivers who have won at least one race in the regular season, which is composed of the first 26 races of the season, qualify for the first round. The rest of the spots are filled by the winless drivers who have accumulated the most points over the course of the regular season.

The first three rounds are composed of three races each, with the final round being the championship race. Four of the 16 playoff drivers get eliminated after each of the first three rounds, making the championship race an all-out sprint between the final four drivers. A win in any of the three races in any of the first three rounds automatically sends the race winner to the next round.

The point totals get reset at the end of each round for all drivers who advance. However, drivers’ playoff points, which are earned throughout the season by winning both races and stages, are added to the reset total in each of the first three rounds. The final four drivers in the championship race all start with the same amount of points.

Here are a few of the pros and cons of the NASCAR playoffs. We’ll start off with a pro.