Overview
- Managing communications director Mike Forde said the Playoff Committee has finished its work and that the final call now rests with NASCAR leadership.
- Sports Business Journal reporting conveyed to teams that keeping a playoff is the most likely outcome, though no format has been finalized.
- Kurt Busch proposed a shorter five‑race hybrid that carries over a small portion of regular‑season points to better reward year‑long performance.
- Insiders have floated alternatives such as a return to a 10‑race Chase, a 'five‑and‑five' structure, and qualification tweaks that emphasize points and multiple wins.
- Multiple reports suggest the one‑race Championship 4 finale could be replaced by a multi‑race finish, with commercial partners’ preference for marquee playoff moments factoring into deliberations.