What’s Happening?

During Tuesday’s episode of Door Bumper Clear, a NASCAR insider laid out a hypothetical playoff format that now has the NASCAR fandom wondering if his suggestions are the actual changes NASCAR could make to it’s playoff system.

Through all the topics that come up in the NASCAR community, NASCAR’s current Playoff System has far and away been the story of the 2026 season.

The topic of changing the playoff format flowed out of last fall, in which Joey Logano won an improbable championship while maintaining the 13th-best average in the series and an elimination overturned by disqualification.

While NASCAR has not promised changes to the format, the sport has taken steps towards modifying the system by forming a committee to discuss the potential changes. Despite the fact that there is no guarantee, fans have latched onto any rumors or talk regarding a change.

One take on the format sweeping the fandom came from this week’s episode of Door Bumper Clear, which featured NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic as a guest host.

A Hypothetical Format

During a conversation on the playoffs with fellow guest host Austin Cindric, Bianchi asked Cindric what he thought of a hypothetical, and somewhat detailed, playoff format for 2026.

Bianchi asked, “Hypothetically speaking, if there was a championship round consisting of, say, four races, would that make it more palatable for the drivers?”

This alone did not raise many questions from his co-hosts, as expanding the number of races that decide the championship is often the leading point in the playoff debate.

But, the veteran writer, with a grin on his face, then started “spitballing” some details, saying that this hypothetical format, suggesting that the Playoff be cut to three rounds (from the current four), with the first and second rounds being three races, and the finale being four.

This time, the added detail raised questions amongst his co-hosts, with Bianchi maintaining that “I’m just coming up with ideas.” While the topic slowly dropped off, Dirty Mo Media stoked the flames of this topic with the wording of the following post on X.

Seems like @Jordan_Bianchi knows something we don't… 🤨@AustinCindric | @FreddieKraft | @KarsynElledge3 pic.twitter.com/EurqudO6R6

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) September 9, 2025

The idea of expanding the final round is one heavily supported by fans who appreciate the current system but would like some change as well, with the idea being that a larger sample size across multiple tracks could decide the champion.

Expanding the Final Round

Some NASCAR fans and drivers, such as Austin Cindric, support the current playoff format, while others, including some outspoken drivers in the garage area, would like a return to the full 10-race Chase or the 36-race full-season. Though some members of the Playoff Committee, such as Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, have claimed that a multi-race final round seems like the most realistic change to the system.

Of course, Bianchi’s suggestion does not stray far from the idea of expanding the final round, with most suggesting a three-race final round or a five-race final round as a fun compromise for those who want to see more races to decide the champion. 

Notably, this hypothetical format does reflect comments last week from Dale Earnhardt Jr, a long-suspected member of NASCAR’s Playoff Committee, who claimed on his podcast The Dale Jr Download that he thinks that changes to the current system will be a 3 to 4 race finale.

As expected, in response to this episode of DBC, Bianchi’s comments have received some pushback, with Hall of Famer Mark Martin, an outspoken supporter of the full-season points, posting on X, “Why is @Jordan_Bianchi trying so hard to push a playoff when the majority of fans don’t want it.”

Looking to the Future

So, is Bianchi’s hypothetical format the answer?

As of right now, there is no way of knowing. NASCAR has yet to announce any changes to the system for 2026, with NASCAR officials publicly saying that they think the sport could wait another season if they have yet to make a decision.

Of course, this time frame doesn’t mean the system isn’t going to change, as even NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell recently suggested trying different formats in the lower two NASCAR National Series in 2026.

Still, the countdown to the end of the 2025 season sets a clear timeline for NASCAR to make a final decision before the impending season.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.