Brad Keselowski NASCAR playoff criticism came to the forefront after Sunday’s Round of 12 cutoff race at the Charlotte Roval, where the 2012 NASCAR Cup champion voiced frustration over the current postseason structure. While dramatic moments defined the event—including a bold last-lap move by Ross Chastain—Keselowski’s pointed remarks reignited debate about the overall direction of the playoffs.
Keselowski’s Public Disapproval of the Playoff System
Brad Keselowski, who did not participate in the 2025 playoffs as RFK Racing missed the cut, has consistently expressed concerns about the Cup’s playoff format over the years. After the chaotic Charlotte Roval race concluded, Keselowski took to X (formerly Twitter) to reiterate his stance:
“Clear as day, not enough talk about winning and winners (star power) but covering 15th for known elimination is easier for media storylines. Fans are voting with their eyeballs and it’s definitively a net loss for the sport vs full season format. Now is the time to fix this.”
Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Driver and Team Owner
The sentiment echoes discontent among some within the racing community who feel the playoff system has eroded the emphasis on outright winning and consistency throughout the full season. His comments followed a tense and eventful race marked by strategic gambles as drivers like Joey Logano and Ross Chastain fought desperately for enough points to continue in the championship chase.
Controversial Moments Highlight Playoff Drama
The Charlotte Roval served as a showcase for both the drama and the criticism of the current playoff structure. In the final moments, Ross Chastain collided with Denny Hamlin, forcing both cars out of contention. Chastain, attempting to gain a needed point, reversed across the finish line in a last-ditch effort to stave off elimination, exemplifying the extreme tactics sometimes fueled by the playoff system.
Amid this chaos, Shane van Gisbergen delivered a commanding performance, winning the race by more than 15 seconds and extending his record to five straight road course victories in the 2025 Cup season. However, as Keselowski noted, much of the narrative and televised coverage focused on battles at the playoff cut line rather than highlighting the winner’s dominance.
Debate Over the Future of NASCAR’s Championship Format
With ongoing discussions about the championship format for 2026, NASCAR’s leadership faces decisions that may fundamentally reshape the title chase. Ideas being considered range from expanding the final playoff round to four races with as many as six contenders, to a possible return to the traditional season-long points system many purists prefer. The last significant changes to the playoff format were introduced for the 2017 season, and the organization has not used a full-season points approach since 2003.
Keselowski’s remarks about fans “voting with their eyeballs” were underscored by a notable drop in TV ratings for the 2025 playoff races—reported losses of 300,000 to 400,000 viewers compared to similar events in the previous year—raising concerns about the long-term engagement of the sport’s audience.
Implications for the Sport Moving Forward
The mounting criticism from respected figures such as Keselowski, combined with noticeable declines in fan engagement and television viewership, is increasing pressure on NASCAR’s sanctioning body to reassess the playoff format. The debate underscores a wider push within the sport to balance generating on-track drama with preserving competitive integrity and fan loyalty.
As the racing world awaits official word on any potential championship structure changes, the events at Charlotte Roval—and voices like Keselowski’s—ensure that the controversy surrounding the NASCAR playoffs will remain a central topic heading into future seasons.
