Dale Earnhardt Jr. offers update on potential playoff changes

NASCAR Xfinity series car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s update on potential changes to NASCAR playoff format might disappoint fans

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 10:53 PM ET

With debate regarding NASCAR's current playoff format swirling around once more following Shane van Gisbergen's win in Mexico City, Dale Earnhardt Jr. offered an update on where potential changes to NASCAR's postseason format sit at the midway point of the 2025 season.

Any changes to the format would not be in place this year, but would likely be employed beginning in 2026.

On Tuesday's episode of the "Dale Jr. Download," Earnhardt Jr. shared what he believes to be the most likely scenario for what NASCAR decides to do with regard to a new format.

"If I had to guess where we land, it's going to be very similar to where we are today," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They'll just probably expand that final round to about three races."

While that's not a change that would satisfy everyone, Earnhardt Jr. said it's a system he wouldn't mind seeing come to fruition.

"If you had a four or five race battle in that final round, that's challenging," Earnhardt Jr. said. "That would legitimize the champion. This guy, he did over these five races against these people the best. That would bring legitimacy back to that championship accomplishment.

"The drivers that go to Phoenix, we've heard them say it doesn't feel as valuable or as cherished as the old way of winning (a championship) over the entire season," Earnhardt Jr. continued. "You can't argue against that."

The format Earnhardt Jr. proposed as likely isn't as drastic of a change as some fans would like, but it's a solid leap forward in re-legitimizing a NASCAR championship in a day and age where it seems to lose its luster more every year.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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