Overview

• NASCAR’s playoff committee has finished meetings and forwarded recommendations, with any decision to be approved by the board and announced only after the Nov. 2 finale in Phoenix.
• Communications chief Mike Forde said he would be very surprised if the one‑race, winner‑take‑all championship remains, citing a need for a larger sample to decide the title.
• Options discussed range from a return to a full‑season points championship to a reworked postseason that could include a multi‑race finale and changes to playoff‑point weighting and win values.
• Reporting by The Athletic notes the idea of eliminating the playoffs has gained traction, shifting from a lone voice in February to multiple influential supporters by a Sept. 17 meeting.
• The review is driven in part by declining TV ratings and a mounting legitimacy debate among fans and insiders about whether the current format properly rewards season‑long performance.