With all the crying and complaining online over the last few days about NASCAR’s Playoff format, it got me thinking. What would I do differently? Well, to be honest, I love the Playoffs. I love almost everything about it. None the less, I have a vision on what I feel would be ideal, and here it is.

I love “Win and you’re in” to an extent (remember I said ALMOST?). Top 25 in points is a must. Otherwise you get the 21 car basically stealing a spot off luck as the lowest ranked full-time car in the series. At least show that you can make a conscious effort to be in contention at the end.

To Qualify

Up to 16 Drivers can qualify.

Top-25 Win and you’re in. Simple. If you are in the Top-25 in points and you win a race, you’re in the running. 15 drivers will win or point their way in like they do today. If there are 15 winners, boom, there’s your contenders. If 13 win, 2 get in on points. But here’s the kicker, you get a “Wild-Card.” The driver who wins the most stages throughout the regular season who does not win a race or lock in on points, they get added as a 16th and final Contender. But this driver must be in the Top-20 in points, if that driver is not, only 15 compete.

There are no more Playoff Points

Outside of injury or illness, there are no waivers, even for winners. If you are suspended, there is no waiver. Illness or injury is a per-basis issue.

Seeding

Seeding into my Playoffs is simple, you enter the Playoffs as you ended the Regular Season. All drivers points are set to 0 just like the Chase in 2004, but each of the drivers will receive points based on where they finished in that Regular Season. The Regular Season Champion would receive 16 Points, the runner-up 15 points, 3rd would get 14 points and so on and so forth until the 16th place driver gets a single point.

How My “Playoffs” Work

Drop the Eliminations that we have today. Points are accumulated the same way they are today including stage points, but for the “Playoffs” we add 2 points earned for Fastest lap, 2 points for leading a lap, 3 points for leading the most laps and a 10 point jump over second place for winning .

At the end of the season, the driver with the most points in the Playoffs, wins. It’s that simple.

Header Image Credit: Cody Wansley/ SFM