Regardless of how NASCAR desires to sugarcoat it, there’s no denying that switching to the playoffs was controversial. A good portion of the NASCAR group desires the playoffs scrapped, however is it actually doable?
One outstanding insider says that restoring the 36-race format is not only a fantasy — it has been actively mentioned and stays into consideration by NASCAR.
What Did a NASCAR Insider Reveal In regards to the Risk of a 36-Race Championship?
NASCAR launched the playoffs in 2004 to maintain fan curiosity excessive throughout mid-season and expertise a lift in TV rankings. Nonetheless, followers and plenty of ex and present drivers have closely criticized the playoff system, and the likes of Mike Martin and Chase Elliott have publicly acknowledged that they need the playoff format gone.
NASCAR desires to proceed with the playoffs, however as discontent grows, it has fashioned a playoff committee and is contemplating altering the system quickly.
How drastic are these modifications going to be? Can we anticipate to see the Winston Cup Sequence format again? Jeff Gluck says the concept “is on the desk.”
“Tim Clark from NASCAR has put collectively this committee, and did in my view a fantastic job by getting a bunch of various voices on it like having Mark Martin take part, figuring out that Mark Martin was pro-36 races, proper?” Gluck informed his co-host Jordan Bianchi on “The Teardown” podcast.
Gluck clarified that it was only a suggestions discussion board; it doesn’t have the authority to implement any modifications. That mentioned, NASCAR will think about the responses it receives from this committee whereas making any potential modifications to the playoff system.
Then, he defined that the committee has lately proven rising assist for the 36-race championship system.
“So, Tim Clark opened up this current assembly, and he mentioned, ‘Has anyone’s opinion modified from the beginning of the 12 months?’ as a result of within the first assembly of the 12 months, one particular person passionately spoke up for 36 races, and everyone else was attempting to think about one thing throughout the framework,” Gluck revealed.
“It didn’t actually really feel like that 36 races was even a chance in any respect. This assembly was fascinating in that quite a few folks, perhaps half a dozen, spoke about 36 races, and made the case for 36 races,” he additionally disclosed.
Nonetheless, Gluck believes that despite the fact that the concept of a season-long championship is gaining momentum and stays into consideration, it in the end is not going to occur. “I don’t suppose it’s gonna occur. I feel it has been thought-about and it’s on the desk, as like, an possibility,” he clarified.
Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless excellent news for these hoping to see the previous 36-race factors system return, as assist for the concept is rising and NASCAR is now being compelled to contemplate it.
MORE: Jeff Gluck Exposes Main Rift as TV Networks Distance Themselves From NASCAR’s Playoff Mess
Because the starting of the playoffs, the concept drew blended reactions from the followers, and NASCAR by no means acquired its anticipated return from the change. Initially, 10 drivers would get the postseason cross, however since NASCAR didn’t get the response it was anticipating, the regulatory physique felt the necessity to tweak the playoffs.
NASCAR expanded the playoff subject by six drivers and launched three cutoff factors — 12, eight, and 4 drivers. It additionally debuted bonus factors for profitable race phases, making a factors system that confuses many followers immediately.
However NASCAR couldn’t cease the stoop in TV rankings. Occasional spikes apart, the numbers stored falling. In 2015, 7.643 million viewers watched the championship race reside on TV. 9 years later, solely 2.9 million viewers tuned in to observe the championship race reside on NBC.
