Ryan Blaney spoke out on Wednesday during a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio appearance to address the ongoing debate surrounding the NASCAR championship format. He argued that drivers who have won titles since the introduction of the 16-driver playoff system all earned their championships fairly, countering claims that these recent champions are less deserving than those who won under the previous full-season points format. Blaney emphasized that everyone competing under the current system faces the same challenges and that the debate overlooks how the sport has evolved over the past two decades.
“What kind of bugs me a little bit is the people that are so diehard on, like, ‘If you won a championship in this format that we have now, oh, it’s a Mickey Mouse championship and it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t count,’”
Blaney said.
“It’s like, man, everyone has the same opportunity as the guy who won it. This isn’t the full season points. Like everyone always talks about like, ‘Oh, this guy, he would have won the full season points.’ Like, well, that’s great. But we haven’t used that format in 20 years.”
Playoff format and the controversy surrounding recent champions
The current playoff system, established in 2004 and modified over time, has drawn criticism, especially after Joey Logano won his third NASCAR Cup Series title at Phoenix despite having an average finish of 17.1, the lowest among recent champions. The playoff format prioritizes winning, with the elimination-style postseason starting with 16 drivers who qualify through regular-season race victories. Since 2014, drivers must perform exceptionally in the playoffs, as the format centers on winning races and advancing through successive rounds rather than accumulating points over the full season.
Blaney himself secured the championship in 2023. Although his car was seldom dominant during the regular season, he noticeably elevated his performance in the playoffs by winning two races and finishing second in two others, including the crucial finale in Phoenix. This demonstrated his ability to peak when it counted most and validated the playoff format’s focus on late-season success.
Blaney’s thoughts on potential improvements to the championship structure
While Blaney strongly defends his title and the merit of recent champions, he also expressed openness to modifying the playoff setup. He particularly dislikes the winner-take-all nature of the final race, suggesting it puts too much weight on a single event. Instead, Blaney advocates for rewarding consistency across the postseason.
“I mean, everyone can have their opinion,”
Blaney acknowledged.
“It gets under my skin a little bit when they’re like, ‘You guys didn’t deserve that championship.’ It’s like, what are you talking about, man? Like we went through the grinder, everyone digs in. And we were resilient when it mattered.”
“Do I have my ideal like championship format? Yeah,”
he said.
“Like my opinion on it, I was a huge fan of the initial Chase. Last 10 weeks of the year, you kind of have somewhat of a reset in points and then you go 10 races and whoever had the best 10 races was going to win the championship.”
Significance of Blaney’s perspective in NASCAR championship debate
Ryan Blaney’s statements contribute a measured viewpoint to the contentious discussion about NASCAR’s championship format, highlighting that recent champions have had to earn their titles under a challenging, competitive structure. His recognition of the playoff system’s flaws, especially the emphasis on a single final race, may spark further conversations about possible reforms that balance excitement with rewarding consistent performance over a stretch of races.
As the sport continues to evolve, input from current drivers like Blaney offers valuable insights that could shape future changes to the NASCAR postseason, potentially leading to a format that satisfies fans and competitors alike while preserving the integrity of the championship.