NASCAR legend Richard Petty has voiced concern over the current playoff format after Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) earned a playoff spot by winning the race in Mexico despite being ranked 30th in the overall standings.
Petty responded to a fan on social media who questioned how a driver with very few points could make the championship field while others with better consistency might miss out.
Richard Petty Says the Current Playoffs Format Is Not Right for the Sport
Under NASCAR’s “win and you’re in” system, any full-time driver who wins a race during the regular season automatically qualifies for the playoffs, regardless of where they are in the standings. SVG took advantage of that rule by winning the race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for Trackhouse Racing.
The win moved him from 33rd to 30th in points, which currently puts him inside the top 16 drivers eligible for the postseason. When a fan asked Petty to share his thoughts on SVG’s playoff berth despite his poor championship standing, the Hall of Famer did not hold back his thoughts and criticized the championship format.
“The way they got this thing fixed, if you win and you’re in. That can’t be right from the standpoint that you got somebody, like you say, that’s 30th in the points, that’s gonna make the Playoffs,” Petty shared his opinion via X.
“Hey man, what happened to the guy that’s 15th or 16th or 18th, you know, been running good, finished good everywhere. You’re making a championship situation by winning a road course, which is not really NASCAR to begin with. So from that standpoint, I think they are gonna have to jockey around and change some of this stuff,” Petty added.
FAN QUESTION: How do you feel about a guy who is 30th in points automatically qualifying for the championship?
Via Facebook user, Ronald Rhine.
Full Race Recap and more answers to fan questions tomorrow at 8am on the Petty Family Racing YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/X6NqW887zA
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) June 16, 2025
Van Gisbergen, a three-time Australian Supercars champion, is in his first full-time Cup Series season. He is now the tenth different race winner in 2025, which leaves just six playoff spots remaining with ten races to go in the regular season.
Meanwhile, drivers such as Chase Elliott, fourth in the regular-season standings but yet to win a race, currently sit outside the top ten in playoff rankings. This situation has once again brought attention to the playoff format, which many fans and drivers believe is unfair to those who perform well throughout the season but don’t win a race.
How Did van Gisbergen’s Win in Mexico Affect the Playoffs Race?
SVG’s win in Mexico didn’t just earn him a playoff spot; it shook up the entire battle around the cut line. Before Sunday’s surprise result, Ryan Preece held the final playoff position in 16th place. He had a 24-point lead over Michael McDowell and was 26 points ahead of AJ Allmendinger.
Chris Buescher and Alex Bowman were comfortably above the line, with solid point cushions. But SVG’s win changed everything. Since he’s now locked into the playoffs, he takes up one of the sixteen spots, pushing everyone below him down a notch. Chris Buescher now finds himself sitting on the bubble in 16th.
Ryan Preece falls 19 points behind and out of a playoff spot. McDowell is now 43 points out, and Allmendinger trails by 45. Alex Bowman, who had a 46-point gap to the cut line, saw his safety margin drop to just 22 points. Every driver in the playoff hunt effectively lost 19 points to the cut line because of SVG’s entry.
Read More: ‘Absolutely Pathetic’ – Shane van Gisbergen Endures the Wrath of NASCAR Fans After Wild Playoff Shake-Up
Now, only six playoff spots remain with ten regular-season races left. The pressure is rising for everyone who hasn’t won yet. The next chance to make a move comes at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22, in The Great American Getaway 400.
