The NASCAR world has been buzzing with playoff system debates throughout 2025, and now those conversations have reached a fever pitch. While drivers like Joey Logano and Austin Cindric defend the current format, a growing chorus led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. demands change. But this isn’t just another off-season argument anymore. The fate of NASCAR’s entire playoff structure might now rest in the hands of one teenage phenom who’s rewriting the record books with every race.
How Could Connor Zilisch’s Championship Run Change NASCAR Forever?
Connor Zilisch has turned the Xfinity Series upside down in 2025. The teen has already become the winningest first-year driver in the sport’s secondary division, delivering what many are calling a generational performance.
However, Zilisch now faces the ultimate test of NASCAR’s controversial playoff system. Despite his historic regular season dominance, the current format means one bad race or stroke of unlucky timing could derail everything he’s built. That reality has Dale Earnhardt Jr. watching closely, because he believes Zilisch’s championship fate will determine whether NASCAR finally abandons its playoff structure.
Speaking on the latest episode of the “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, the JRM co-owner made a bold prediction. If Zilisch fails to capture the championship despite his incredible season, NASCAR will be forced to overhaul its playoff format.
Earnhardt explained how the current system allows drivers to “sneak up” and steal championships from more deserving competitors in the final four battle. This scenario would expose just how broken the format has become.
“When you get to the finals, you’re going to win it, not, you know, having somebody sneak up in there and take it away from you, like, you know, that happens from time to time. Denny talked about this on his podcast this week. He’s like, ‘Man, I got a feeling that 88 is going to win ten races and lose the championship. And just because of the format.’”
Could what happens in this year’s Playoffs lead to a change in next year’s?
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Why Does Earnhardt Jr. Think Format Change Is Inevitable?
Earnhardt didn’t mince words about NASCAR’s future direction. He believes the sport is already moving away from the current playoff structure, and Zilisch’s potential championship snub would only accelerate that timeline.
“The good news is, most likely, we’re going to move away from this format. I would say the likelihood of us changing the format is very high, and especially if a Connor Zilisch wins ten races and doesn’t win the championship,” Earnhardt added.
Those words carry serious weight when you look at what Zilisch has accomplished in 2025. The teenager has captured nine wins this season, including seven victories in his last eight races. That kind of dominance is rare at any level of NASCAR, let alone from a rookie still finding his footing in professional racing.
Beyond the wins, Zilisch has posted 15 top-five finishes while maintaining an average finish of 8.48. These numbers represent the season-long consistency that traditionally defined championship-caliber campaigns before the playoff era.
Heading into the playoffs, Zilisch sits 59 points above the elimination cutline, while his closest competitor, Justin Allgaier, trails him by 29 points in second place. The gap shows how thoroughly the rookie has controlled the 2025 season, making any potential championship loss even more glaring.
