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NASCAR: What’s wrong with NASCAR? Part 8 – Gimmicks

By William Richard

BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 10: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 10: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
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BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 17: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Ducks Unlimited Toyota (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 17: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Ducks Unlimited Toyota (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Playoff Points

Playoff points are unique. Drivers earn points towards the postseason that go with them round to round throughout the playoffs. This, again, is an idea that I like but don’t consider to be essential.

Playoff points were introduced in 2017 alongside of stages, and they have proven to be very valuable when competing for a championship. In you’re new to the sport, a driver receives one playoff point by winning a stage and five for winning a race.

The top 10 drivers in the regular season standings are also rewarded a bonus ahead of the playoffs. These additional playoff points give drivers a leg up against drivers with fewer or no playoff points.

Another one of Brain France’s sport-altering ideas, playoff points have become essential over the last two seasons for drivers hoping to be crowned champion at season’s end. The problem? This idea is completely unnecessary.

In fact ,this idea completely negates one of the ideas we’ll discuss later, the playoff structure. With the goal of creating surprise championship contenders and wild eliminations, playoff points actually make it harder for “underdog” teams to make runs at the championship.

Once again, we run into an idea that has its positives but could have been avoided had NASCAR fixed more serious issues.

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