NASCAR’s playoff system has been a topic of controversy because it was first launched as “The Chase for the Cup” in 2004. Because it’s developed into its present kind, it is solely grown all of the extra polarizing amongst followers and even drivers and it naturally turns into a scorching matter yearly when fall rolls round.
Many view the playoffs because the metaphorical pipe leak that’s polluting how NASCAR’s championship is received. Nonetheless, in actuality they’re the Flex Seal tape masking the leak as depicted within the widespread meme template — whereas the precise leak is rooted in a a lot greater downside.
Between 1975-2003, NASCAR used a reasonably simplistic factors system designed by Bob Latford that weighed every race equally. The issue with this method, although, was that it didn’t worth profitable sufficient, and in the end solely rewarded threat aversion and the absence of dangerous luck.
Championship outcomes corresponding to these in 1985, 1996 and particularly 2003 have been determined just by whoever had the fewest poor finishes, relatively than probably the most wins or dominant performances.
It was an archaic system that had outlived its unique goal, which was largely to incentivize drivers to run each race in an period when lots of them didn’t. So the Chase was applied in 2004 as an answer, by which drivers may not win a championship by hiding from adversity to compile invisible eighth-place finishes.
Ten years later, the trendy playoff system was born, with three elimination rounds resulting in a winner-take-all finale, all whereas any win all through the season locks you in.
On precept, it is a constructive improvement for the game. Actually, the champions all through the 20 years of the Playoff Period have scored extra wins on average than the champions of the 20 earlier years did, which is smart given the significance the playoffs place on wins.
With the 2017 introduction of stage factors providing further bonuses for efficiency all through races, it’s a lot tougher for a driver to contend for a title through the use of the “sluggish and regular” strategy.
Nonetheless, it additionally cannot be denied that the playoffs are a extra synthetic format, and one which in sure circumstances solely punishes dominance.
Take 2018, when Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. distanced themselves because the “Massive 3” over the season and but Joey Logano received the title by beating them when the enjoying area was evened for the ultimate showdown. Some seasons simply haven’t got 4 drivers whose efficiency is worthy of a championship, and that is completely okay.
Then there’s been championships which have devolved into outright circus exhibits, such because the 2023 Truck Series title race or the 2016 Cup Collection finale. Carl Edwards and Logano infamously wrecked on a late restart within the latter occasion, permitting Jimmie Johnson to squeak by means of for his historic seventh title regardless of being the slowest of the 4 title-eligible drivers in that race.
Having a championship determined by one single race is vulnerable to far an excessive amount of randomness, and defeats the playoffs’ goal of providing mulligans for dangerous luck.
There was a a lot less complicated repair right here: simply change the weekly factors system. And, would not you simply understand it, NASCAR did that too — and made it even worse!
In 2011, the Latford system was scrapped in favor of an much more simplistic one the place every place is value yet one more level than the one beneath it, with the exception being wins as they’re value three bonus factors. The distinction between second and third place is handled as the identical distinction as that between thirty second and thirty third, and subsequently a foul end hurts a driver exponentially greater than end helps.
NASCAR should not solely reverse course, however go a lot additional again in its earlier path than the Latford system was. Make wins value extra — loads extra. Design a format by which a foul end will be overcome after which some by a terrific one the next week, whereas nonetheless valuing every race equally and permitting championship battles to play out naturally over the course of the complete season. It isn’t that tough.
That is what IndyCar does. That is what Formula One does. That is what just about each racing sequence on this planet does, aside from NASCAR, the place common end is seen as the final word measurement of driver efficiency relatively than profitable and dominating. It was a flawed idea in 2003, and it is an much more flawed one now when races are greater than ever determined by dumb luck on late restarts.
So, sadly, so long as that is still the case, the playoffs are equal to a Band-Support hanging on for pricey life because it holds again the avalanche of points created by a structurally damaged factors system.
They don’t seem to be the most important downside with NASCAR, however they’re a failed answer.
