Kenny Wallace has spoken out on the ongoing debates about postseason formats, suggesting a significant Kenny Wallace playoff system change to reduce the impact of a single race on the championship outcome. His views were discussed on the Herm & Schrader podcast, recorded for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media, where he called for adjustments to the format ahead of upcoming changes to the sport.
On the show, Wallace was clear in expressing his concerns about the current system, which heavily depends on the final Championship 4 race to determine the season winner. He explained that in his opinion, allowing just one event to decide the title is too restrictive and doesn’t provide a true test of consistency.
“My opinion is that they leave everything alone, but instead of one race determining the championship, I think it should be three races,”
Kenny Wallace stated. – Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Veteran
Wallace Critiques Current Playoff Decision Structure
Kenny Wallace shared his perspective that the single-race showdown puts too much pressure on drivers and may not reflect the full season’s efforts. He proposes that expanding the championship to be settled over three races would give competitors more opportunity to demonstrate their skill and perseverance. Wallace, who brings years of experience as a veteran driver, voiced this opinion to co-host Ken Schrader during their discussion.
Upcoming NASCAR Rule Changes and Industry Insight
Alongside Wallace’s suggestions, NASCAR’s leadership is also looking to shake things up. Steve O’Donnell, the president of NASCAR, recently appeared on the Dale Jr. Download podcast to announce significant changes for the 2026 season. Car performance will be enhanced, with the Cup Series vehicle’s horsepower rising from its current goal of 670 to 750 for road courses and shorter tracks.
O’Donnell emphasized the importance of achieving balance when boosting performance, noting that any change in horsepower must be coordinated with adjustments in aerodynamics and braking to ensure safety and competitive integrity.
“If you look at where we are today, where we can go without completely changing over the industry. And so whatever you do, you want to make sure that if you’re going to change the horsepower within the car, you’ve got to match it up with the aero of the car, you’ve got to match it up with braking.“ – Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR President
Ken Schrader added in earlier episodes that slowing Cup cars has been an ongoing trend within NASCAR for several decades. He believes the upcoming changes could help restore some of the challenge and excitement that drivers crave, suggesting that the newer NextGen vehicles are more than capable of handling increased power.
Kenny Wallace’s Take on Mental Toughness in NASCAR
Beyond the mechanics of the sport, Wallace also addressed the psychological demands of top-level racing. On the podcast, he named Denny Hamlin as a prime example of mental toughness in the NASCAR Cup Series. Wallace cited both Hamlin’s resilience in the face of criticism and his iconic “I beat your favorite driver” statement after a win at Bristol in 2023 as demonstrations of his confidence and focus.
“Who is the baddest son of a b**ch in NASCAR? It’s Denny Hamlin,”
Kenny Wallace said on Coffee with Kenny (3:25).
“Denny thrives on sh*t talk… Denny Hamlin has taken enormous abuse because he is an entertainer. Whenever you entertain, whenever the masses lay their eyes on you, they’re going to find everything they can wrong with you because it will make them feel powerful.”
– Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Veteran
Denny Hamlin further cemented his status with his 60th career win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, matching Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time Cup Series victories list. Notably, despite past confrontations with detractors, Hamlin responded to this milestone with gratitude and emotion, acknowledging the support of everyone at the event and across the racing community.
Implications for the Future of NASCAR
Kenny Wallace’s call for a playoff system change, along with the confirmed increases in horsepower for 2026, highlight a period of transformation for NASCAR. These adjustments—focused on competitiveness, fairness, and driver skill—aim to keep the postseason both dramatic for fans and just for drivers. As discussions continue across media like Dirty Mo Media and input from figures such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve O’Donnell shape the agenda, the upcoming seasons are set to see notable evolution in both race formats and car performance. All eyes will be on whether NASCAR aligns with Wallace’s vision for a more balanced playoff system as the next era unfolds.
Three races for the championship instead of one — yes or no? 🤔@Kenny_Wallace | @KenSchrader pic.twitter.com/OnfHWeIQor
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) October 17, 2025
