We are already two races into the NASCAR playoff season, yet the current format has failed to win over many fans. Calls to reinstate the old points-based championship system are growing louder, prompting NASCAR to consider making some changes next year.
Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, has revealed his opinion on the potential return of NASCAR’s old format, and it didn’t please many fans.
Bubba Wallace’s Spotter Stirs Controversy Over NASCAR’s 36-Race Points System
NASCAR had a traditional season-long points system in place for years. However, discussions about updating the format started after Matt Kenseth won the title in 2003 despite not having the highest number of wins that season.
The Roush Racing driver won just one race that season, while second-placed Jimmie Johnson claimed three victories and third-placed Dale Earnhardt Jr. took two. Yet Kenseth finished the year with 5,022 points, beating Johnson’s 4,932 and Earnhardt’s 4,815.
Kenseth’s advantage was consistency. Week after week, he capitalized on opportunities when others slipped, demonstrating precisely what a championship should reward.
NASCAR executives and broadcasters were not happy seeing a low-win racer walk away with the championship, as it made the narrative “dull.” So, the championship format was changed, and now we have a playoff-based championship format.
But many fans believe that the current format offers minimal rewards for consistent drivers. It’s possible to get into the playoffs with a single win in the season and go on to win the championship by doing well in the playoffs.
Joey Logano won only once during the regular season last season, but he picked up the pace in the playoffs, and secured the title. Critics argued Logano suffered little to no consequences for his poor early season form.
Growing numbers of fans view the current playoff system as unfair, prompting calls to reinstate the old championship format.
A fan recently took to X to suggest that a return to the old 36-race points system is possible, despite Kraft insisting it isn’t.
“Sounds like @Jordan_Bianchi is hinting at 3 rounds (3-3-4) Playoffs being considered for next year on DBC. @FreddieKraft says we should give up all hope of a 36 race points format. We will never surrender Freddie. @NWCS_Standings is picking up a lot of steam,” they wrote.
The X profile “@NWCS_Standings” calculates NASCAR standings using the traditional Winston Cup Series format. As of now, it has 20,000 followers and has grown increasingly popular in recent months.
Kraft, however, downplayed the optimism, saying, “Never gonna happen. But it’s nice to be hopeful lol”
The 43-year-old, however, made it clear that he wants the old system to come back, but he doesn’t see it happening.
Kraft had also criticized Mamba Smith’s controversial comment when the NASCAR personality claimed that the point of the championship is not to crown the best driver.
“Mamba had a moment of poor decision-making, I think at this point,” Kraft said on the “Door Bumper Clear” podcast. “You never want to say the point is not to crown the best driver as the champion. …I didn’t see many people agreeing with him.
“Yes, the idea is to crown the best team as the champion. But at the end of the day, the driver is the champion, and you want to see the best driver in your series be your champion,” he added.
The debate over the NASCAR playoff is not going away anytime soon, but Kraft thinks the NASCAR executives won’t bring the old system back. While NASCAR has hinted at changes for next year, a return to the traditional season-long points system seems highly unlikely.