Jeff Burton Is Frustrated with NASCAR Playoff Criticism

NASCAR’s Playoff format is arguably the most polarizing part of the sport. Many drivers and fans are reluctant to accept the format despite having been in place for years. Now, NASCAR legend Jeff Burton has opened up on the constant criticism received by the Playoffs.

In NASCAR Playoffs, 16 drivers battle it out in the final 10 rounds. The top 16 are decided by the race winners in the regular season. One win is enough to secure a spot. However, if there are not 16 winners, then the remaining positions are filled by drivers with the highest points.

From then on, the top 16 have 4 drivers eliminated after every 3 years to have a final showdown of the top 4. Over the years, fans have criticized this format as a driver with just one regular season can become the champion. While more consistent drivers might lose out.

Jeff Burton made it clear that whoever wins the championship in the Playoffs format is a deserving winner who shouldn’t be criticized. After all, drivers only compete according to the rules created by NASCAR. The ones who manage to win by the rulebook and the format are the best.

I want to be clear about something. I believe that the people who do it best are the ones who are successful, and so if the rule is changed, it doesn’t mean that the people that won championships under this format weren’t deserving. The competitors have to play by the rules that the sanctioning body creates, and the ones that do it best are the champions – period, end of story.

Jeff Burton told Motorsport.com.

Moreover, Burton addressed the fact that many believe that Playoffs don’t give the most consistent driver the title. This is also true in other sports such as basketball and football. However, Jeff Burton asserted that even if NASCAR is different from those sports, they also have their own problems.

I know people say ‘well a playoff is not indicative of who had the best season.’ Well yeah, you can make that case in every sport. And then they’ll say ‘well it’s different in motorsports’ – okay, I can hear that argument. It is different, and motorsports is different than other sports, but other sports have their challenges too. Look at the injuries in football, basketball – there are all kinds of things that make every sport unique to themselves

Jeff Burton stated.

Jeff Burton labels Joey Logano ‘deserving’ NASCAR champion

Joey Logano is the poster boy when it comes to hate towards Playoffs. The Team Penske driver is known to be the best at exploiting the format and winning the championship, not once but a couple of times.