Brad Keselowski calls for end of NASCAR playoffs: 'Very unhealthy for the sport'

Brad Keselowski has seen NASCAR change throughout his near two-decade tenure in the sport. The most notable thing that exists now that didn’t before is the 10-race, elimination style playoff format.

The playoff format has both its supporters and those who would prefer something else; Keselowski is firmly in the latter category. Taking part in “12 Questions” with Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Keselowski was asked what he believes needs to happen to take NASCAR to the next level in popularity. The 41-year-old answered in three parts; part two was focused on the playoff format, which he said is “very unhealthy for the sport.”

“The whole playoff thing has to go away,” Keselowski said. “The nuance of having 10 races that are more important than 20-some others is very unhealthy for the sport. It’s demeaning to the other tracks and races. And unfortunately, those 10 races that are supposed to mean more are in direct competition with other sports. It muddies the water. It’s not working for the sport.”

The current format, implemented in 2014, is a 10-race postseason consisting of 16 drivers. Winning any race throughout the 26-race regular season is an automatic qualifier for the playoffs, points position be damned. As Keselowski pointed out, the most important time of the year for NASCAR takes place during the heart of the NFL season, making it difficult for the sport to grab headlines.

NASCAR put together a playoff committee consisting of former drivers, media partners, team owners, manufacturers, track representatives and independent media to determine if the playoff should change in 2026, such as potentially doing away with the one-race finale. The format has largely stayed status quo since its inception. In 2017, stage racing and playoff points were introduced — other than that, nothing has changed.

But after Joey Logano‘s victory in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway this past season, in which the Team Penske driver captured his third title with an average finish of 17.1 — the worst for a driver in a championship-winning season — the cries to change the playoff format have been loud. With the 2025 playoffs already underway and the 2026 schedule revealed, NASCAR is under some pressure to decide what the playoff format will look like next season.

NASCAR playoff format could look different in 2026

Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, revealed on last Wednesday’s “Hauler Talk” podcast that the playoff committee will have one final meeting next week. Forde said the plan will be to “discuss the shortlist of potential formats” before whittling it down to “one final format.”

“We’re getting very close. We have a final playoff committee meeting, which I’m on that committee. That is coming next week, mid-week next week,” Forde said. “I think the plan for that meeting is to discuss the shortlist of potential formats and get the playoff committee’s opinion on all that. We’ll go through that process, and then hopefully, make a determination of an even shorter list until we can whittle it down to one final format. NASCAR will decide to move forward, and we may see something as soon as 2026. More to come on that and hopefully, we have news that fans will really like. 

“… The whole reason we have this playoff committee is because of fan feedback and there was a large contingent of fans that gave the feedback that we need a different format. I think where we’re heading here is a format that will be embraced by fans and hopefully once we have an announcement here, whenever that is, fans will feel good about it.”

Keselowski won’t get his wish of the playoffs going away entirely. However, it looks like some tweaks are on the way.