Denny Hamlin Claims That He “Might Go Longer” if NASCAR Finds the Right Championship Format

What’s Happening?

Denny Hamlin discussed NASCAR’s Playoff format during the latest episode of Action’s Detremential. The veteran driver explained why it is important to find a legitimate format and how that could factor into his long-term plans.

Entering this past race weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the main topic on the minds of NASCAR fans, and even some drivers, was the debate between the NASCAR Playoff format and a return to a full-season points system.

This conversation, which reignited following comments on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, saw fans asking whether a return to a full-season points system is worth a deeper look at NASCAR’s future. The debate even raged into the race weekend, the same weekend in which Denny Hamlin, now an elder statesman of the sport, signed what could be the last contract extension of his career.

During the latest episode of his podcast, Actions Detremental, Hamlin, who confirmed that he is a member of the NASCAR playoff committee, which suggests potential changes to the playoff format, spoke on why the lack of legitimacy is the biggest factor holding back the current system.

Regarding the current Playoff format, Hamlin said that the committee has “a large concern of its legitimacy.” This includes the small sample size provided by the single race that decides the champion at year’s end.

Recently, Jeff Gluck of The Athletic said on his podcast, The Teardown, that he, a fellow committee member, thought NASCAR agreed with the committee in moving away from the single-race all-or-nothing final round before NASCAR’s TV partners, who prefer the drama of eliminations and a final race, stepped in.

Hamlin expressed this sentiment during this discussion, saying that due to outside factors, including the 36 other drivers on track, “you must create a larger sample size to crown your champion because in one race, anything can happen.”

Hamlin, who has been a victim of the one-race finale before, says that this is why other motorsports have not adopted a similar format. The three-time Daytona 500 champion believes that having a legitimate championship, as opposed to the chaos of the current format, will help bring viewership.

As Hamlin puts it, “You need to legitimize your sport first; the people will tune in.”

“I Feel Like My Chances Would Be Better on a More Typical Sample Size”

NASCAR discussions with their TV networks, particularly NBC, about the future of the Playoffs have led to a scenario in which NASCAR could legitimately have to wait another season if they were to make any changes to the Playoff system, as pressure mounts to release the 2026 schedule.

This hold on a decision has left drivers like Hamlin, who have very few years left in their careers, scrambling to win a championship. The 44-year-old even went on to say that he would be interested in racing a few more seasons if NASCAR were to get a “legit format down.”

“And as a person that now only has a couple years left, I told Jeff Gluck, after, if they get a legit format down, I might go longer because I feel like my chances would be better on a more typical sample size. The one race, I don’t know, my chances are 25%. If you go to 36 races, I think my chances are better than that.” — Denny Hamlin

While it is unclear just how long Hamlin has been in the sport, his willingness to say this shows how far he will go to help NASCAR find what he and other drivers would deem a legitimate championship format.

As of right now, NASCAR does not have any set plans to change the playoff system for 2026, and has even advertised that tracks such as Phoenix will host a traditional playoff round race. 

We have covered NASCAR’s search for a new championship format in depth via the link below.

Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.