In 2014, NASCAR altered its playoff system for the Cup Series, expanding the field to 16 drivers based on wins during the 26-race regular season.
Under the current system, drivers compete round-by-round with eliminations occurring after the last race in each round. The race for the championship culminates with the final race of the season, in which the highest-finishing driver at Phoenix Raceway is crowned the champion.
Jeff Gordon, who won all four of his Cup Series titles before the playoff system was enacted, recently spoke of the revised playoff system. In a 1-on-1 interview with Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, Gordon advocated for the playoff system, saying it “does add excitement to the sport.”
“I’m not surprised,” Gordon said. “Because while a purist like myself that have won championships under the old format, I also look at it and go, “This is far more entertaining. It’s more intense.” It’s not always easy to explain to fans, especially new fans, but it does add excitement to the sport. It makes that final race of the year heightened, and I think it attracts more fans because of it.
“Once they introduced that, I don’t think there was any looking back. To eliminate teams the way that they’ve done has only even done more of that. You kind of wish it didn’t just come down to one race. But at the same time, you could say the same thing about other sports, right? The Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter what kind of season you had up to that point, you’ve got to go, you’ve got to win, you’ve got to execute. I think the winners, it’s meant to be. The best teams win.”
Jeff Gordon pushing for multiple Hendrick Motorsports drivers in Championship 4
Since 2014, seven different drivers have won the Cup Series championship. With just one race remaining until the Championship 4 on Nov. 5, it’s very likely that three of the four drivers left standing will be searching for their first championship. The lone exception is Kyle Larson, who alongside Christopher Bell, has already advanced to the final round.
Gordon, the vice chairman for Hendrick Motorsports, is obviously pleased that Larson will be vying for his second-career championship. When it comes to Martinsville Speedway this Sunday, the goal is to get another Hendrick Motorsports driver, William Byron, a spot in the Championship 4.
“I’m just looking at the kind of breakout year that I’ve seen William and [crew chief] Rudy [Fugle] and that team have. They’ve been steadily growing to get here,” Gordon said. “But the way they’ve stepped up as a team this year — pit crew, cars. I think William’s confidence as a driver — they’ve had a heck of a year. And so no matter what, it’s a good year.
“But I know how they feel in the same way we feel as it wouldn’t be complete without going to Phoenix and being a part of that Championship 4. To me, it’s like winning a championship [in] getting there. And then, if all the stars align and you execute, then you can come out of there with something very special, which would be amazing. But right now, I think the reward for them would be to go to Phoenix.”
More must-reads: