Dale Earnhardt Jr. echoes Denny Hamlin's Connor Zilisch fears surrounding NASCAR playoff format

Dale Earnhardt Jr. agrees with Denny Hamlin when it comes to what could happen to Connor Zilisch competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt talked about what could happen to Zilisch as the Xfinity Series playoffs begin this weekend.

“I’m on pins and needles because I don’t know how long they can keep this going,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said about Zilisch and his No. 88 team. “You’ve got all of this success. We’re kind of out there looking in front of that record of most wins in a season for an organization. I think Joe Gibbs has it at 19 or 20. That’s a goal, and then, obviously, trying to get as many cars into the finals is a goal. And then when you get to the finals, going to win it, not having somebody sneak up in there and then take it away from you. That happens from time to time.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares more on Connor Zilisch and NASCAR playoffs

“Denny [Hamlin] talked about this on his podcast this week. He’s like, ‘Man, I got a feeling that 88’s going to win 10 races and lose a championship just because of the format.’ But the good news is most likely we’re going to move away from this format. I would say the likelihood of us changing the format is high, especially if a Connor Zilisch wins 10 races and doesn’t win a championship.”

Zilisch has had a memorable season in the Xfinity Series. The 19-year-old has won nine races, earned 17 top-10 finishes, 15 top-five finishes and has led 750 laps. Zilisch won the Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship and is 59 points above the playoff cut line.

The Xfinity Series Playoffs begin on Friday, Sept. 12, when the Drivers compete at Bristol. The playoffs start with 12 drivers and will cut down to eight by Oct. 11. The Xfinity Series Championship race will take place at Phoenix on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will feature the top four drivers in the playoff standings.