NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons
By Asher Fair
Pro – Unpredictability
A sport where things are predictable is not a sport that typically holds the interest of fans for long periods of time. For instance, the NBA Finals has been the same matchup for three years in a row now and there are maybe two or three teams with drivers that have any chance whatsoever at winning a Formula One race each week. All in all, those sports have generally been predictable.
In NASCAR, the playoffs make things unpredictable. In fact, predictability is exactly what the playoffs help prevent. With the points resetting each round, this allows any of the drivers who have at least solidified themselves as championship contenders to get hot and potentially win the championship because of it.
It certainly makes things more interesting. Take this season for instance. Martin Truex Jr. dominated in about every category in the books in the regular season, including overall standings, stage points and playoff points. Without the playoffs, it would take a miracle for someone other than Truex Jr. to end up as the 2017 Cup Series champion. With the playoffs, several other drivers have a legitimate chance to become just that.
In fact, in the 13 seasons that the playoffs have taken place, just five times has the champion been the driver who actually ended up accumulating the most points through every race, meaning there were eight times when the champion was not the dominant driver. This shows just how unpredictable things have been.
Could Truex Jr. still end up winning the championship this season? Absolutely, and he’s definitely still the favorite to do so. But are there plenty of other driver who have a chance to do so as well thanks to the playoffs? Without a doubt, and that is how the playoffs throw away the sport’s predictability and make things really interesting down the stretch.