P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Chase Elliott leads calls to drop the contrived playoff format.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott is advocating for NASCAR to ditch its playoff system and return to a traditional full-season championship approach.
The playoff system, initially named Chase for the Cup in 2004, has been expanded to NASCAR’s Xfinity and Trucks series and comprises a 10-race, four-round format ending in a winner-takes-all final.
While designed for excitement and to prevent runaway champions, this format has long been a topic of debate among drivers and fans.
Although Elliott clinched his first Cup Series title in 2020 under the current system, he believes the championship should be based on performance throughout all 36 points-paying races.
2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski supports Elliott, emphasizing that the current playoff structure obscures the parity and competitiveness introduced by the Next Gen car.
Both drivers highlight the need to celebrate excellence over the course of a full season, urging NASCAR to reconsider its playoff model.
