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Christopher Bell and Hamlin Call for Revamp of NASCAR Playoffs to Reward Regular-Season Dominance

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Christopher Bell and Hamlin Call for Revamp of NASCAR Playoffs to Reward Regular-Season Dominance

Nov 10, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin have joined the chorus of voices calling for adjustments to NASCAR’s playoff system after both drivers fell short of advancing to the Championship 4 in 2024. Despite stellar regular-season performances, they saw their title hopes dashed in the postseason, reigniting debates over the current format.

Christopher Bell: ‘Best Cars Deserve Better Buffers’

Bell, who won three races and showed remarkable consistency throughout the year, suggested that while the playoff format adds excitement, tweaks are needed to ensure the best-performing drivers across the season aren’t eliminated due to a single bad race or unforeseen incidents.

“They said they want the playoff system in place, which is understandable, because it creates a lot of intensity and makes every race important, and I love that piece of it,” Bell said. “But maybe adjusting the points system in a way that gets the best cars into the Championship Race would be awesome.”

Bell’s frustration stems from the tight margins and unpredictability of the playoff rounds, where a single misstep can undo months of dominance.


Denny Hamlin: ‘Make the Regular Season Count More’

Hamlin echoed Bell’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a system that better rewards regular-season success. He believes top performers should have a larger points buffer heading into the playoffs to account for the inherent chaos of racing.

“Give the guys that get 30-40 points under this system, the Bells, the Larsons, they deserve to have a really good buffer to make it through the rounds,” Hamlin said. “We’re in a sport where you can get caught up in so many wrecks and things that can happen.”

Hamlin argued that the current system undervalues the regular season’s grueling 26-race schedule, where drivers prove their mettle over a variety of tracks and conditions. Instead, he proposed amplifying the importance of those races to prevent champions from being crowned based solely on playoff survival.

“Those 26 races, it’s proving to not be that substantial to winning a championship, and that’s not something you want,” Hamlin added. “So my message to NASCAR would be: Make the regular season worth more, not just the championship and the points you get.”


Criticism of ‘Survival-Mode Champions’

Both drivers highlighted the frustration of seeing playoff champions emerge despite underwhelming regular seasons, a trend that has diminished the significance of consistent excellence.

“You don’t want a situation where the guy who just survived the 26 races before the playoffs becomes champion,” Hamlin remarked. “The system should reflect overall performance more than just who avoids wrecks in the playoffs.”


A Call for Action

The JGR stars are not alone in calling for reform. Fans and analysts alike have pointed out that while the playoff format brings drama, it often feels disconnected from the season-long narrative. Proposals include awarding larger playoff point bonuses for regular-season wins or expanding the Championship 4 to a Championship 6 or 8 format.

Will NASCAR Listen?

The question now is whether NASCAR will take these critiques seriously. With prominent drivers like Bell and Hamlin pushing for reform, there’s growing pressure on the organization to strike a better balance between regular-season merit and playoff drama.

The offseason could provide the perfect opportunity for NASCAR to evaluate its format and implement changes to ensure the playoffs crown a champion who reflects season-long excellence while preserving the intensity and unpredictability fans love.

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