Leigh Diffey gets honest about NASCAR Playoffs ahead of Supercars finals

When it comes to the NASCAR Playoffs, change is coming. For Supercars in Australia, a first-ever playoff is unfolding right now. What can Supercars learn from NASCAR as they embark on the postseason format in motorsports?

Leigh Diffey has been around NASCAR and motorsports for years now. He is in his second year as NBC’s Cup Series play-by-play announcer. In a recent interview with FOX Sports in Australia, Diffey offered up his opinion on how Supercars can avoid NASCAR’s mistakes.

It is no secret that NASCAR has had troubles with the playoff format lately. In fact, we are going to get a change in format one way or another. So, Diffey offers a unique insight for those Supercars fans in Australia.

“The general consensus is that the majority don’t enjoy having one race that determines it all,” Diffey said of the NASCAR Playoffs. “There’s been plenty of great champions crowned, plenty of great years and moments, but maybe it’s had its shelf life, maybe it’s lived out a term in this current format.

“NASCAR has been doing it for some 20 years now in a variety of ways, and I think the fan base is just calling for a tweak – not necessarily the abolition of the playoff format, but maybe a three – or four-race format in terms of determining the champion.”

Leigh Diffey is right. Fans appear tired of the final race format determining the champion. But will a modified playoff change those concerns? And is Supercars heading for the same fate as NASCAR when it comes to their new format? Only time will tell at this point.

NASCAR Playoffs likely to stay in some format

When it comes to the 2026 season, NASCAR fans should expect a playoff format of some sort. The likely outcome is something like the old 10-race Chase that existed from 2004 to 2013. Still, that might not be enough to satiate NASCAR fans’ desire for legitimization.

Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of racing communications, talked about potential changes to the playoffs on the Hauler Talk podcast. Nothing has been determined yet, but a report this week makes it sound like the playoffs will stay in some form or fashion.

“They’re going to take all the feedback they got from every walk of life and every thought on the spectrum from no playoffs whatsoever to keeping it how it is and really beating that all up. They’re announcements to come,” Forde said. “Honestly, I don’t know where it is. It could be in two weeks, it could be in two months. We clearly want to make sure that we have been very thorough on this one.

“Obviously, it will be before Feb. 5 in The Clash, but it could be sooner than later; it could be in January. I don’t know, I don’t think anyone knows just yet. Still discussions to be had on where we are in discussion of the playoff format. I think we feel good about the directions and the possibilities here because of the playoff committee and the work that they’ve done and the feedback we got from the industry.”