Rick Hendrick on NASCAR playoffs format has voiced strong criticism of the current system, making his feelings clear just months ahead of the 2025 post-season. The veteran Hendrick Motorsports owner spoke candidly about the controversy that continues to surround how champions are now decided in NASCAR.
Hendrick’s Discontent with the Modern NASCAR Playoff System
Rick Hendrick, the prominent figure behind Hendrick Motorsports and co-owner of JR Motorsports, has publicly stated his disapproval of the format used in the NASCAR playoffs. At 76, Hendrick remains a major influence, and his opinions carry significant weight in the motorsport community. The upcoming post-season is set to begin on September 12, 2025, using a three-round elimination system that culminates with a championship race. This format, in place for over a decade, has been the subject of much discussion and disagreement among fans, drivers, and team owners.
While speaking on SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio, Hendrick frankly addressed his position:
“You just got to show up to your job and try to build as many points and win early. I like the old method myself, but they don’t ask me but anyway.”
This knock-out style replaced the earlier format known as ‘The Chase,’ where drivers competed to accumulate the highest points tally over the final ten races of the season. The change, now in its 11th year, continues to generate debate, with many in the garage looking back on the old system with nostalgia. Hendrick’s critique highlights a sense of exclusion felt by some of the sport’s most experienced stewards, especially given his longstanding reputation among NASCAR’s most successful team owners.
Rick Hendrick’s Roots: Risk-Taking and a Passion for Cars
Before establishing himself as an icon in both racing and automotive sales, Rick Hendrick made a series of bold moves that shaped his career. He founded the Hendrick Automotive Group in 1976, eventually growing it into the largest privately held dealer network in the United States. Hendrick’s journey started in South Carolina, where, early on, he took the chance to purchase a struggling Chevrolet dealership in Bennettsville.
His early mentor, car dealer Mike Leith, was influential during Hendrick’s formative years, which saw him working at a local service station before transitioning into automotive sales. These formative experiences shaped a career defined by calculated risks. At age 26, he became the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country, building a business known for its resilience and scale. Reflecting on his path and the risks he took, Hendrick shared insights in a 2016 interview with Inc. Magazine:
“I was working in a service station and met a car dealer named Mike Leith. I went to work with him, and then when I was 26, I got recruited by GM and sold everything I owned and moved to Bennettsville, South Carolina. It was a big risk. I was running a store with 30 salespeople, and we were selling 200 to 300 cars a month…”
“And I went to a store with five employees that was lucky to sell 200 cars a year. It was a big risk, but I just figured if I worked as hard as I could, we wouldn’t fail. I had the choice to sink or swim, and I decided to swim really, really hard. I also have to give Chevrolet a lot of credit.”
Today, Rick Hendrick oversees an empire with over 100 dealerships, providing jobs for thousands and playing a major role in the wider automotive landscape.
What the Future Holds for NASCAR’s Playoffs and Hendrick’s Influence
With the knock-out playoff system locked in for another season, debate on its effectiveness and fairness shows no signs of ending. Hendrick’s remarks reinforce that the tension between tradition and innovation in NASCAR is far from settled. As the next championship battle approaches and debate around the racing format intensifies, Hendrick’s experience and stature ensure his opinions remain influential, both within the sport and in business circles beyond it. The coming years will likely see continued discussion about how best to crown a NASCAR champion and the role longtime leaders like Rick Hendrick play in shaping its direction.
