NASCAR insider gives update on potential timeline for new playoff, points format

With the NASCAR trial over, fans are wondering when we will hear about the new playoffs or overall championship format. Many thought that the sanctioning body would use the opportunity to use the news to draw eyes away from the bad publicity. Now, we could be waiting longer.

The NASCAR Playoffs are controversial and remain a touchy subject in the sport. The Supercars championship format is much like the proposed 3-3-4 format NASCAR is apparently considering. The fallout from that championship was met with more than just disappointment.

Well, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, don’t expect news until after the New Year. Surely the teams have to know more than a month ahead of time, right?

Wouldn't expect anything new on the points format for next year until January. https://t.co/yDdPgQOOLh

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 15, 2025

A lot of NASCAR fans are hoping to see a full points season. It doesn’t appear that will be the case if you take the word of people like Denny Hamlin. Then again, there could be a change of heart now that the antitrust trial is over via settlement. Hard to say.

It did feel like, after the season ended, we would find out in December. That is not the case now, according to Pockrass. It is hard to tell what might be on the horizon for NASCAR and ultimately, how it decides its champions.

Can NASCAR Playoffs exist moving forward?

It is hard to say what the best move forward is for NASCAR as far as the Playoffs are concerned. Series like the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series have made the change back from playoffs to a full-season championship. Supercars may already be regretting their Finals format after one year. So, is a playoff format even viable?

It feels like the 3-3-4 format would give fans what they largely want. A championship without eliminations. Basically, what the old Chase format was like, more or less. It feels like even with a format such as that, NASCAR will have a hard time selling fans on it.

I think that it may be time for NASCAR to return to the simple-is-better method of doing things. Have you ever tried explaining the NASCAR Playoffs to somebody? Let alone the Chase and all of the variations there were of that? It takes a thesis and a Master’s Degree to really flesh it out.

How great would it be to say, whoever earns the most points over the course of 36 races is the champion, when someone asked you about NASCAR? You could get into the details of the points system after that if you want. But the barrier to entry is relatively easier than explaining eliminations and points resets that go up by 1000 each round.