Talladega taking marquee spot in 2025 NASCAR playoffs shouldn't come as a surprise

NASCAR's current playoff format isn't the worst way to crown a champion in the sport's history. From 1949 to 1967, the amount of prize money a driver won determined their championship points standing, but that earned its share of criticism from fans. The knockout-style system is often described as gimmicky, illegitimate and a hindrance to NASCAR's growth. 

Regardless of any layman's opinion of the playoff format, however, there is one unequivocal truth regarding the format: No NASCAR points format has ever produced as much drama in such a short amount of time. 

Moments like Ross Chastain's "Hail Melon" or Brad Keselowski's three-wide bonzai move at Texas in 2014 wouldn't have happened without the pressure that's been created due to the playoff system. And adding a superspeedway race to the postseason's penultimate round will only exemplify the stress that the championship-contending drivers feel as they navigate through the 10-week stretch.

With Las Vegas expected to open the Round of 8 once more in 2025, NASCAR's second trip to Sin City will also be made that much more intense due to Talladega's new placement. With a win guaranteeing a championship-contending driver a spot in the championship race at Phoenix, a win in Las Vegas to nullify any pressure at Talladega the following week would be paramount to a team's chances of winning the championship. 

Even if a driver is in a good points situation after Las Vegas, the high banks of Talladega could turn their fortune in the opposite direction in an instant. One big crash could be enough to erase a 30-point cushion and in the same vein, a driver who was in a near-impossible situation points-wise could be thrust above the cut line. 

NASCAR must be given credit where credit is due: For a sanctioning body that has fully embraced the entertainment side of their sport over the last 20 years, moving Talladega to one of the most important dates on the calendar is not at all out of character. Don't be surprised if Daytona, Atlanta or Talladega are potential candidates for the championship race in the next decade. It'd simply be par for the course if NASCAR decided to let a superspeedway race crown its champion soon.