NASCAR Playoff Committee Has Discussed a Three and Five-Race Playoff Finale

July 31, 2025
1:02 pm

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Kauy Ostlien

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What’s Happening?

According to a new report, the NASCAR Playoff Committee has discussed several new playoff formats for NASCAR, including a three- and five-race playoff.

Inside NASCAR's playoff committee: The process, the discussions and where things could be headed…eventually. https://t.co/HbEZ8dJPGt

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 31, 2025

This report, from playoff committee member Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, claims that the committee, which is not making the final decision and is more of a braintrust of industry members, is looking at a compromise. Specifically, this compromise would see NASCAR expand the final round of the playoffs.
While an expansion of the typically one-race final round of the playoffs may not be new information, as several committee members, specifically Gluck and Denny Hamlin, have spoken about it recently, we now have a new look at what that could be. Of course, it includes the three-race final round, often suggested by fans and industry members, a return to the ten-race chase, and even a five-race final round.
Gluck goes as far as to suggest that there is a compromise to be found in the ten-race chase by cutting the field five races in, leaving the final five races to determine the champion. “If not a full 10-race playoff, then perhaps a compromise would be having a five-race opening round, one elimination to cut the field in half and then a five-race mini-Chase to determine the champion,” Gluck said.
The committee’s discussions seem to focus on finding a compromise between the chaos of an elimination playoff and the credibility that many have felt lost since 2014. Nonetheless, as reported multiple times this week, discussions are on hold until NASCAR speaks with broadcast partner NBC, meaning there is a chance nothing will change for next season, leaving fans waiting another season.

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