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NASCAR has found itself the center of more controversy. Not only was Austin Dillon’s win controversial, but fans are now pointing out online that the revocation of NASCAR’s “Top 30 rule” in 2023 has allowed an undeserving driver to make the playoffs.
Since introducing the NASCAR “win and you’re in” playoff format in 2014, NASCAR has tried to police full-time entries on who can be in the playoffs. The NASCAR Playoffs is comprised of 16 drivers. Those who win races in the 26-race regular season lock themselves into the playoffs and, once in the playoffs, advance to the next round by winning.
The 10-race, four-round knockout system was unprecedented for the governing body, which has continuously changed the points system since 2004. Fans pushed back hard on the “win and you’re in” system, but with few to no upsets, it maintained a reasonable cast of drivers.
This high level of playoff competition could be why NASCAR revoked the top 30 rule in 2023. But what was this rule?
The rules for playoff eligibility required competing in every race that season (drivers could qualify without attempting all races with a waiver for eligibility), declaring for points in the Cup Series, and remaining in the top 30 in Cup Series points at the end of the regular season.
The top 30 rule no longer exists as of Jan. 31, 2023, when NASCAR revoked this rule, allowing any driver that maintained the first two rules and won a regular season a spot in the playoffs.
Before its removal, few drivers in the Cup Series had come close to this top 30 problem. Many fans thought Michael McDowell would struggle after winning the 2021 Daytona 500. However, this would not be the case, finishing the regular season in 19th and making it in safely.
AJ Allmendinger looked like a strong candidate after his underdog win for JTG Daugherty racing in 2014 at Watkins Glen. But Allmendinger would finish the regular season 23rd in points and even finish 13th in the playoffs.
Chris Buescher would be the only driver to cut it close during this period after his out-of-nowhere win for Front Row Motorsports at Pocono in 2016. The Rookie driver entered the race 31st in points, and after fog ended the race, Buescher didn’t even move up in the points.
That season, the future standout driver had been consistently ranked as low as 34th. Coming down to the wire, Buescher would finish the regular season 30th, the perfect spot.
In the first season without the rule, 2023, no teams flirted with this problem. Now that one season has passed, the issue is rearing its head.
Austin Dillon has had a tough season; the former top prospect has had a career-worst season. Entering this past weekend, he was 32nd in points, a spot he has held since Iowa on June 16.
After the controversial finish, in which Dillon wrecked two playoff drivers on his way to the win, many fans have pointed to his inconsistency as a reason for the existence of the top 30 rule.
Keen eyes will notice that Dillon’s win raised his standing to 26th, a comfortable spot. While Dillon could and may see his standing fall, with three races to go, it’s realistic that he maintains a top-30 spot.
This has not kept drivers like Denny Hamlin from calling out NASCAR on this as he did on the most recent episode of Actions Detrimental.
“They had the top 30 in place for a reason: to keep people from being absolutely horrible all year long and lucking up and getting a win.” — Denny Hamlin, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin, “Richmond: Integrity of the Sport On the Line.”
With three races to go, if Dillon falls back below 30th, NASCAR will see fans’ scorn. For now, Dillon is locked in. Nothing can be done about that unless NASCAR enforces a monumental penalty for wrecking Logano and Hamlin.
While some fans will still voice their opinion, Austin Dillon has, by the rule book, made the playoffs.
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