“As long as the teams and drivers know before the green flag at Daytona”: Fans react as insider reveals the timeline for NASCAR’s new playoff system

NASCAR fans are split over possible playoff changes after Bob Pockrass revealed that a decision will most likely not be announced until January.

The schedule for the three NASCAR national series was released earlier this year, in August, but the playoff format was not finalized. The association set up a Playoff Committee to study options, and the panel had representatives from manufacturers, current and former drivers, racetracks, teams, and media, who met to discuss possible changes to the championship format. But the committee did not intend to make the final decision itself.

In his latest post on X, the Fox Sports reporter shared that NASCAR will not announce a new playoff system until sometime in January.

"Don't expect NASCAR to announce new playoff system until sometime in January," Bob Pockrass replied to a fan question. "As long as the teams and drivers know before the green flag at Daytona," a fan replied to Pockrass' tweet. "Or hopefully, no playoff system," another fan commented. "Let's not announce a playoff system at all," another wrote.

Fan reactions were split. Some were hopeful for a change to the old full-season points system. But others were not so optimistic.

"Is there any chance what NASCAR is about to give us will be less stupid than the system we just had to deal with?" a fan asked. "This isnt gonna be good," another wrote. "Of course we're still gonna be stuck with playoffs. Thanks for ruining Christmas Bob!" yet another commented.

According to JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., the first playoff committee meeting took place in February. He had earlier said that the members seriously discussed the option of a full-season points system.

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"Nobody stepped in" - NASCAR Hall of Famer on 'embarrassing' meeting with playoff committee

Mark Martin, who has been outspoken against the current playoff setup, was also part of the aforementioned playoff committee. The NASCAR Hall of Famer was in favor of the classic 36-race championship format used before 2004 during a meeting with the committee. But according to Martin, only Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell supported him.

In a November episode of The Scene Vault podcast, Martin said (24:40 onwards):

"It was embarrassing. I went off, and then it was just kind of silence. After the meeting was over, yeah, nobody said no. None of them Dale Jr., nobody stepped in. The one guy, Christopher Bell, said, 'Well, I think it would be, I'd like to see a full season points, but I know that's not realistic.' That was the only support whatsoever."

For now, fans will have to wait another month for a decision on the playoffs. The 2025 season will start in the third week of February next year at Daytona International Speedway.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar