NASCAR Official Talks Playoff System’s “Barrier to Entry” and What’s Next After Latest Playoff Committee Meeting

What’s Happening?

During the latest episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast, NASCAR’s Mike Forde suggested that NASCAR might do away with the current system’s Playoff Points, and laid out what is next following what was possibly the final meeting of NASCAR’s Playoff Committee.

With just six races left in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, NASCAR is still deciding what points format will be utilized to crown the champion in the coming seasons.

Though this period of self-reflection began in February, with NASCAR assembling a brain trust of industry members called the Playoff Committee not to decide, but comment on potential changes to the points system, the sport wrapped up what was likely the final committee meeting just last week.

Following this meeting, members such as Dale Earnhardt Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Jeff Gluck have all made note of potential changes to the playoff system. While all have suggested that expanding the final round of races is a strong likelihood, another item that has arisen from this meeting is a shift to simplification of the playoff system.

This could come in many ways, with Gluck citing the removal of playoff points as a potential option. Wednesday, on NASCAR’s in-house podcast Hauler Talk, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Communications Mike Forde said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Playoff points “hit the dusty trail.”

Forde’s Takeaways From This Meeting

During the Playoff Committee meetings, which have been behind closed doors, several members have been reliable sources of information, with Forde being one of the first to explain the committee and its goals to the public back in February.

In this episode, Forde gave his takeaways from the latest meeting, reasserting his fellow committee members’ claims that, though it is unlikely NASCAR goes this route, the full-season points system has grown in popularity amongst the committee members.

Though in his take, Forde expanded on Gluck’s talk about simplifying the playoff system. Forde says that he thinks playoff points were added for “a good reason,” but the complexity of the bonus points, handed out to race winners and stage winners, is a “barrier to entry” for casual viewers.

“I think playoff points are a good thing,” Forde said. “I think they were created for good reasons, but I think they’re a barrier to entry for those who don’t follow NASCAR. They’re a little bit confusing.”

So, if NASCAR were to remove playoff points, what would happen? Forde suggests that NASCAR would hand out more points for winning, essentially bonus points, built into the base points system.

“I wouldn’t be surprised, if there is a playoff format moving forward, that playoff points hit the dusty trail, and there is just more points for a win, for instance.” — Mike Forde

This quote is also interesting as Forde states, “if there is a playoff format moving forward,” a change in tone from other committee members, and potentially implying that NASCAR may be giving the format a serious look, though it remains unlikely.

So, What’s Next?

According to Forde, there are some “loose ends” to be sorted out, such as who qualifies, how the system would seed drivers without playoff points, and how win-and-in/win-and-advance would work within the system.

From there, this issue now heads to NASCAR officials to make the final call on, as both Forde and his counterparts have noted that NBC, the network that carries the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, has recused itself from these discussions. While the term NASCAR Officials is often used loosely, Forde broke down who he thinks the decision-makers will be.

Forde claims that a group of individuals in NASCAR leadership will present an idea to the NASCAR Board of Directors, which includes names like Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy, Steve Phelps, and Mike Helton. The Board will then have the final call on what, if anything, happens to NASCAR’s points system.

If there is a new system, it will likely not be introduced until after this fall’s Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, and could even come closer to the start of the 2026 season, rather than the end of the current year.

For rumors, news, and background information on NASCAR’s 2025 review of its playoff format, including details on committee meetings, make sure to check out the article linked below.

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