...
By Saajan Jogia
Sports Contributing Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney is open to the sport reverting to the traditional playoff format in 2026, which was in place from 2004 to 2013, where drivers made it to the playoffs based on the number of points they accumulated, which followed intense racing for 10 weeks. Blaney admitted that he dislikes the current format where drivers get to the playoffs if they win a race in the regular season.
There has been much talk about a playoff format overhaul. NASCAR even gathered drivers, team owners, manufacturers, track representatives, media partners, and independent media to form a playoff committee to decide whether the playoff needs changes for 2026. The Athletic's Jeff Gluck confirmed that reverting to the 36-race playoff format that was in place between 1972 and 2003 is being considered seriously.
For Blaney though, it seems like he doesn't mind any change as long as the 'if you win, you're in' playoff policy is removed from NASCAR. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said:
Read More on Racing
“I don’t personally like the win and you’re in type thing. I think you got to be top X in points no matter what guys they take, whether it’s 12, 16, whatever, I think it’s just those guys in points. Think you can put a bunch of more emphasis on winning, as far as a ton more bonus points for winning.
...
"You know, right now, I think it’s just five extra points for winning. Like, not even playoff points. Like, it’s just five extra. I think you can get, like, 20, put a big emphasis on winning, and the points gap is bigger there.”
Blaney added that he prefers the playoff format that was in place from 2004 -2013, but at the end of the day, a change is what he wants to see. He added:
“I do think, personally, I would like to see some kind of, if you do a playoff chase format, I would like to see more races to the end with the final guys… If you do that, and it’s your 16 guys, and it goes 10 weeks straight, and you have, you know, if you win a lot in the regular season, you have a bunch of bonus points to start it, and then it’s a 10-week sprint where you have to have some consistency.
“I’ve also thought about if you have 10 races to the end, you have five, then you cut off the bottom eight, and then you have five to the end, and those eight guys will race, and you just kind of carry over your points from the regular season and the first part of the playoffs, and then that goes on. I don’t know. I mean, there’s a lot of different scenarios out there, but I would be game for a change, you know, some kind of a change.”
"But I think my biggest things are get out of the win and you’re in if you do a playoff format. And then again, if you do a playoff format, have more races to the end to determine your champion, or if they want to go 36 races that’s fine with me too. So, I’m all for whatever. But I guess those would be my couple things that I would like to see changed if they do switch around a little bit.”
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines