Joey Logano, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has voiced skepticism about NASCAR’s recently announced championship format for the 2026 season, despite positive feedback from former drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin. Logano shared his thoughts during a January testing session at North Wilkesboro Speedway, emphasizing he personally preferred the previous playoff system. His concerns stem from his success under the existing “win-and-you’re-in” approach used from 2014 through last year.
Logano commented,
“Personally, I was one of the rare people that liked the old one just from a fan perspective,”
adding,
“I enjoyed it. But if the majority doesn’t like that, then, sure, we’ll change it. And we’ll go race another way. And that’s OK with me, too. That’s kind of where I’m at with it.”
How the New Points Reset Could Keep Some Drivers From Contending
One major change in the format returns to a system resembling NASCAR’s 2004-2013 playoff structure, particularly in how points are reset after the 26-race regular season. Unlike the previous format, which rewarded drivers with playoff points earned through race and stage wins for better seeding, the new method eliminates playoff points entirely. Instead, the 16 playoff drivers—rebranded as the Chase—will be seeded strictly based on their points rankings at the end of the regular season.
The biggest gap is between the first and last seed: the driver in 16th place will start the playoffs 100 points behind the leader, while the top-ranked driver will retain a 25-point bonus going into the final ten weeks of the season.
Logano expressed serious doubts about drivers starting deep in the standings being able to overcome such deficits.
“I think if you’re 12th or so going into the playoffs, I don’t think you can win it from that far back,”
he said.
“You’re gonna be 70-plus points back without knowing the real numbers. And you’re gonna have to make that up against the best cars in 10 weeks. Boy, that’s gonna be tough. That’s gonna take a lot to make that happen. You’re gonna have to be really, really, really good, really special to do that.”
He further explained the implications for consistency during the regular season, stating,
“You’ve got to be pretty solid throughout the regular season to make sure you’re within that top five or so when the playoffs start,”
and
“I think it’s a pretty big jump to get yourself into championship contention if you’re too far back. The game has changed.”
Elimination Rounds Removed, Impacting Playoff Dynamics
The new championship system will do away with the elimination rounds, which previously heightened the stakes in each stage of the playoffs. Now, a victory during the postseason will no longer guarantee automatic advancement to the next phase, removing a critical element of urgency. Additionally, points will not reset after each stage, which means drivers must maintain consistent performance throughout the entire Chase to remain competitive.
Logano hinted at how this shift may affect driver strategies, noting,
“The bad days are gonna be harder to recover from,”
and highlighting that,
“Consistency is gonna pay off more.”
Under the former system, elimination rounds often forced drivers into aggressive, high-risk moves to avoid being knocked out. The absence of these sudden-death phases could reduce such do-or-die moments, where drivers might previously have pushed limits to clinch advancement. Logano referenced one notable example: Ross Chastain’s infamous “video-game style maneuver” at Martinsville Speedway in 2022, a daring move made to secure a spot in the Championship 4.
Logano said,
“That type of do-or-die moment isn’t gonna be here as much anymore,”
adding,
“That’s what it seems like the fans wanted. It was to have more consistency pay off. Those situations won’t be there as much.”
The Larger Picture: What These Changes Mean for NASCAR’s Future
Joey Logano’s cautious stance on the new format highlights the tension between preserving competitive drama and evolving to satisfy fans’ desire for consistent performance from top drivers. By eliminating playoff points and removal rounds, NASCAR is shifting toward a championship that rewards season-long persistence but may lessen sudden moments of high stakes drama.
These modifications will affect how drivers and teams approach the entire campaign, placing increased pressure on regular-season finishes to avoid insurmountable points gaps. The altered playoff dynamic could also influence racing styles, potentially reducing aggressive maneuvers seen during prior elimination races.
As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on how Joey Logano and other leading competitors adapt to the new system, and whether the changes truly deliver the competitive balance and excitement NASCAR aims to achieve.
"The tide had turned" on the old format…listen to Steve O'Donnell explain how the change came about. pic.twitter.com/90LfWdTwot
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) January 12, 2026
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/1586843550301315072
