Keselowski Surprised Drivers Haven’t Adjusted to New Playoff Format
NASCAR veteran says competitors still racing like old system despite return to points-based title fight.
Keselowski Surprised Drivers Haven’t Adjusted Jacob Kupferman Brad Keselowski, who earned his NASCAR Cup championship in 2012 when the Chase was the post-season format, said he was surprised with this year’s reintroduction of it that more drivers haven’t changed their approach to the 2026 races. “I am actually quite shocked we haven’t seen more of a difference,” Keselowski says in reference to how the drivers are racing this year. “I don’t think it’s really clicked yet for a good part of the field.
” Two years after Keselowski won his title, NASCAR switched to a win-and-you’re in for the post-season and instituted elimination rounds in the playoffs. In the season finale, the series champion was determined by who had the best finish among the Championship Four. However, an uproar among the competitors and the fans that grew louder with each passing year led NASCAR during the off-season to revert to the champion being decided over the season’s final 10 races.
The top 16 in the point standings at the end of the regular season—26 races—advance into the post-season title hunt. Keselowski says a “good part of the field” didn’t grow up racing for a championship with this year’s format. “They’re going to have to adapt or be replaced,” says Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing.
“That’s kind of how this sport works. It’s one of those things that sometimes you have to feel the pain first. I went back and re-watched the race at Darlington, and I saw a number of moves that I was really surprised by.