Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott has expressed support for a rumored change to the NASCAR playoff system, favoring a 3-3-4 format. This proposed structure consists of two rounds with three races each, followed by a final four-race round to decide the champion, differing from the current 3-3-3-1 setup that eliminates three drivers after each round and resets points.
Elliott shared his thoughts Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, stating,
“I think it would be better than what we have,”
emphasizing that a larger number of races would determine the champion and potentially reduce the risk of a competitor’s championship hopes being ruined by factors beyond their control. He added,
“It would seemingly give an opportunity to have something that’s totally out of somebody’s hands not completely derail their championship day … their shot at Phoenix (the current season finale, although it will move to Homestead-Miami Speedway next year).”
While he acknowledges the format is not flawless, Elliott believes it offers improvements over the current system, saying,
“Is it perfect? Probably not, but I would say that it sounds better (than the current format).”
Having won the NASCAR Cup championship in 2020, Elliott’s recent seasons have been more challenging. After strong fourth-place finishes in 2021 and 2022, an injury prevented him from competing fully in 2023, leading to a missed playoff berth and a seventh-place finish overall.
Preference for a Return to a Points-Based Championship System
Earlier this year at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, Elliott expressed a different view on playoff formats, favoring a complete return to the traditional points system without playoffs. He explained,
“The system would be just fine if you just had a full season (and no playoffs,”
adding,
“And if somebody runs away with it, so what? Let’s celebrate the fact that somebody ran away with it, that somebody was just that good.”
He further underscored his standpoint, saying,
“Motorsports does not have to be like everybody else to be successful. And I’ll stand by that till I get done (retires).”
Despite this preference, it appears unlikely that NASCAR will abandon the playoff format entirely in the near future given the sport’s modern direction.
Implications of the Playoff Format Debate Moving Forward
The discussions around changing the Chase Elliott NASCAR playoff format highlight ongoing efforts to balance competition fairness with excitement in stock car racing. Should the 3-3-4 format be adopted, it would allow more races to influence the championship outcome, potentially reducing the impact of isolated setbacks for drivers. Elliott’s perspective, shaped by his championship win and subsequent challenges, reflects a desire for a system that rewards consistency while keeping competition open.
As NASCAR prepares to move the season finale from Phoenix to Homestead-Miami Speedway next year, adjustments to the playoff rounds could reshape how champions are crowned. The evolving format will likely continue to spark debate among drivers, officials, and fans about the best way to determine the NASCAR Cup champion.
