The tension is real for NASCAR fans, drivers, and legends who lived the grind of every single lap mattering. Mark Martin knows the heartbreak and the humor that comes with chasing a title under two very different formats.
Now, as NASCAR considers possible changes, everyone is left wondering: Will tradition win out, or will the playoffs keep telling the story?
Why Does Mark Martin Want NASCAR to Ditch the Current Playoff Format?
It is no secret that NASCAR is not riding the wave of popularity it did during the days of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Jeff Gordon. The current playoff format– one that prioritizes race wins instead of consistent performance all year– has left many fans frustrated.
This frustration only grew louder after Joey Logano won his third championship last November. Despite having a regular season most would call subpar and only a few playoff wins, Logano captured the title with an average finish of 17.1, the lowest mark for any champion in NASCAR history. He walked away with the trophy thanks to the ‘win it, and you’re in’ rule.
Right after that, the NASCAR community got louder about wanting a new format. NASCAR responded by organizing a committee to look at the system, putting Christopher Bell in the spotlight. So far, though, nothing has really changed. At the same time, plenty of legends have been calling for a throwback to the points-based system.
Martin is one of the biggest supporters of that old guard approach. Since serious conversations have not gotten anywhere, he has decided to use a lighter, satirical tone to deliver his point.
How Are Mark Martin and Others Putting Pressure on NASCAR to Change?
Back when Martin raced, you had to be on your game all year. The driver who racked up the points took home the crown, or came painfully close. Martin finished as the runner-up five times, always missing the title by just a handful of points. That did not stop him from piling up 40 Cup wins and building a reputation as the best driver never to win the big one.
Denny Hamlin could land in that same conversation if he fails to claim a championship before calling it quits. Both Martin and Hamlin are racers with plenty of wins and huge moments. Hamlin boasts 59 victories, including seven crown jewels. He is right on the edge of cracking the top-10 all-time winners list. A championship– or lack of one– will not decide his Hall of Fame career; what matters is everything he has done behind the wheel.
Martin keeps saying he wants NASCAR to bring back the system where the champion is crowned based on the entire season, not just a playoff run. In his eyes, plenty of fans want it that way too.
He made that clear when he said, “The majority of fans want a 36-race championship. Then, 30 percent of the fans want a 10-race chase. Twenty percent of the fans want the playoff system or an adjusted version of the playoff system. Until somebody proves me wrong, or until I get an answer for the fans for why their voice doesn’t matter in this decision, I’m going to keep it up.”
Now, Martin is making his point with some playful sarcasm. In a recent X post, he shared, “Just sitting here thinking about how I could get @NASCAR to go to a full-season points championship .”
Just sitting here thinking about how I could get @NASCAR to go to a full season points championship pic.twitter.com/veVYorHUju
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) September 12, 2025
It definitely feels like Martin is poking fun at NASCAR these days. He knows just “thinking” about change will not get it done, and so far, all fans have gotten are words from NASCAR, but no action. Martin is not alone in this; Richard Petty– the ultimate legend in the sport00– backs him up.
What Will NASCAR Do for the 2026 Playoffs, and Will It Matter?
Recently, NASCAR finally commented, promising that things might look different in 2026. Mike Forde, the Managing Director of Racing Communications, dropped this news on “Hauler Talk.”
He said, “I think the plan for that meeting is to discuss the short list of potential formats and get the playoff committee’s opinion on that. We’ll go through that process and then hopefully make a determination of an even shorter list, whittle it down to one final format…We may see something as soon as 2026.”
So, will NASCAR really change things up, or is it more of the same? Fans, drivers, and legends like Martin will be watching– and waiting– to see if action finally follows all the talk.
