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Ryan Blaney chimes in on playoff format debate, reveals what changes he wants to see

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes10/02/25NickGeddesNews
Ryan Blaney
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

It feels inevitable that the format NASCAR uses to decide a champion will look different in 2026. Ryan Blaney has some ideas of what he would like to see.

Blaney, speaking earlier this week on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, said he is not a fan of the win and you’re in, where winning at least one of 26 races in the regular season, regardless of points position, earns a driver entry into the postseason. Beyond that, he would like to see more bonus points for winning.

“I don’t personally like the win and you’re in type thing,” Blaney said. “I think you got to be top X in points no matter what guys they take, whether it’s 12, 16, whatever, I think it’s just those guys in points. Think you can put a bunch of more emphasis on winning, as far as a ton more bonus points for winning.

‘You know, right now, I think it’s just five extra points for winning. Like, not even playoff points. Like, it’s just five extra. I think you can get, like, 20, put a big emphasis on winning, and the points gap is bigger there.”

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. Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, who is on the committee, said last week there was growing momentum for a return of the 36-race championship format NASCAR used from 1972-2003. 

Ryan Blaney is open to playoff format change

Blaney would not mind a playoff chase format similar to what NASCAR had from 2004-2013. Under that format, a set number of drivers made the playoffs on points and then raced for 10 weeks to decide a champion. Blaney believes that would reward some consistency over a larger sample size.

“I do think, personally, I would like to see some kind of, if you do a playoff chase format, I would like to see more races to the end with the final guys,” Blaney said. “… If you do that, and it’s your 16 guys, and it goes 10 weeks straight, and you have, you know, if you win a lot in the regular season, you have a bunch of bonus points to start it, and then it’s a 10-week sprint where you have to have some consistency.

“I’ve also thought about if you have 10 races to the end, you have five, then you cut off the bottom eight, and then you have five to the end, and those eight guys will race, and you just kind of carry over your points from the regular season and the first part of the playoffs, and then that goes on. I don’t know. I mean, there’s a lot of different scenarios out there, but I would be game for a change, you know, some kind of a change.”

Ultimately, Blaney is “all for whatever.” If that’s 36 races, he’s cool with it. If it’s a new playoff format, that works for him as well.

“But I think my biggest things are get out of the win and you’re in if you do a playoff format,” Blaney said. “And then again, if you do a playoff format, have more races to the end to determine your champion, or if they want to go 36 races that’s fine with me too. So, I’m all for whatever. But I guess those would be my couple things that I would like to see changed if they do switch around a little bit.”