Kyle Larson, fresh off his 2025 NASCAR Cup championship, is fueling speculation about possible changes to the NASCAR playoff system for 2026. With NASCAR officials confirming a review of the current format and Larson publicly weighing in, the Kyle Larson NASCAR playoff format is rapidly becoming one of the sport’s hottest topics.
NASCAR Launches Review of Playoff System
At the start of 2025, John Probst, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, stated that the organization planned to keep the current playoff structure in place for the season. However, he revealed that NASCAR had assembled a working group made up of drivers, manufacturers, media representatives, and Goodyear to conduct a comprehensive review of the system for potential changes starting in 2026. This announcement set the stage for much speculation among fans and competitors about possible adjustments to how the series crown is decided.
By September 2025, the playoff committee concluded a series of meetings and signaled a likely end to the single-race championship format. NASCAR expressed interest in using a broader sample of races to determine the champion, rather than relying on a one-race, winner-take-all event between four drivers. Details such as the size of the championship field, the number of races included, or changes to elimination rounds remain unannounced, keeping drivers and fans in anticipation.
Kyle Larson, who clinched the 2025 Cup under the system many have criticized, opted to withhold specifics on his preferences but left no doubt about his investment in how the next iteration might look. The prospect of a significant overhaul has intensified the debate among the NASCAR community about what defines a deserving champion.
Kyle Larson Candidly Weighs In
The subject of the playoff redesign came up during a discussion on the Rubbin is Racing podcast, with Larson invited to offer his thoughts on what an ideal championship format should be. When the podcast host asked about forthcoming changes, Larson replied with unfiltered honesty:
“I don’t think there’s ever a clear 100 % … perfect format that everybody in the world is going to agree on,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
This sentiment reflects years of debate in the garage, where the playoff format has drawn both praise for its drama and criticism for sometimes overshadowing a season’s overall accomplishments. Larson highlighted the flaws of the current system, remarking that even an outstanding regular season can go unrewarded:
“…could win 20 races and not win the championship,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
He further emphasized the importance of expanding the championship-deciding phase beyond a single race, echoing NASCAR’s direction:
“But I think what we can all agree on, Sunday maybe it proved, we need more than one race … whether that is 36, or 10, or 4, or whatever the number is. It should be more than one,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
NASCAR’s committee has been hinting at this shift, sharing that a larger set of races would provide a fairer and more comprehensive test for title hopefuls. Discussing the uncertainties still surrounding the future format, Larson admitted his own uncertainty regarding the specifics:
“I haven’t heard exactly what the for sure format is, but I think whatever it’s going to be, it’s going to be a compromise, a good compromise to what everybody sort of wants,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
NASCAR officials have said that no major announcements will be made about the new format until after the 2025 season wraps up. For now, details remain scarce, but the mood among the drivers, teams, and fans is one of cautious optimism. The hope is for a balanced system that rewards season-long excellence while maintaining the pressure and excitement the playoffs are known for.
Since its introduction in 2017, the current playoff format selects 16 drivers and gives them 10 races, using an elimination process until only four remain, who then compete in a single finale for the title. While this structure creates tension and spectacle, critics such as Larson have pointed out it can allow a season’s best driver to lose the championship if they stumble at the wrong time. Reflecting on his own experience, Larson remarked on the advantages of a larger playoff set:
“I think we all would feel like we have a better opportunity to win a championship if there were more races that factored into it,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
These discussions, driven by voices like Larson and supported by the playoff committee’s recent evaluations, highlight deep-rooted concerns about the balance between drama and merit in NASCAR’s most prestigious competition. With change on the horizon, the pressure is high to get it right—a point not lost on drivers, fans, or officials.
Larson’s Family Stays Competitive
While Kyle Larson is at the center of the playoff shake-up, competition is also alive and well at home. Both of his children, Owen and Audrey Larson, have already started making names for themselves racing in the Junior Sprint division. However, seven-year-old Audrey is beginning to divide her attention and energy, bringing the Larson drive for competition from the track to the rink.
In a conversation with motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass, Larson revealed that his daughter Audrey was trying her hand at ice hockey. Still a newcomer, she is learning quickly, practicing on Mondays and competing in scrimmages midweek. Despite being new to the sport, Audrey is displaying both eagerness and enthusiasm.
“But there’s actually a lot of girls in it, too. It’s really cool. She’s really competitive and likes to do everything, try everything, so it’s pretty neat. And she enjoys going out there and roughing some kids up and all that,”
Larson narrated, NASCAR Cup Champion.
When asked about any family background in hockey, Larson was clear that the ice is new territory for them. He shared where the interest may have started:
“No hockey in my background. So she watched ‘The Mighty Ducks’ a couple of years ago. And so then we got her roller blades and all that. She’s really good at skating, I feel like, for her age and size,”
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Champion.
The move to hockey reflects both Audrey’s versatility and the family’s competitive spirit. While Larson is a veteran behind the wheel, watching his daughter embark on her hockey journey is a new challenge—but one he approaches with the same pride. The family’s embrace of competition, regardless of the arena, continues to be a defining trait.
What the Playoff Changes Could Mean for NASCAR
Kyle Larson’s willingness to speak openly about the NASCAR playoff format, combined with statements from senior officials like John Probst, demonstrates that 2026 could usher in a new era for NASCAR’s championship process. The move away from a single-race showdown toward a multi-race championship arc would address long-standing frustrations and might deliver a more comprehensive test for the series’ best drivers.
As discussions continue among NASCAR’s playoff committee, with stakeholders including drivers, the media, Goodyear, and OEM representatives, fans await official word on the proposed changes. The debates reflect a broader desire across the NASCAR world—including influential voices like Larson’s—for a system that rewards the complete body of work and reduces the chances of a single misstep derailing a season’s worth of effort.
For now, Kyle Larson and the rest of the NASCAR community are watching to see how the working group’s deliberations will shape the future. Interest remains high, as the outcome could impact not only who wins championships, but how drivers and teams approach the entire season. As anticipation builds, one thing is clear: the search for a fair, competitive, and widely respected format is far from over, and the 2026 season might mark a turning point for how NASCAR crowns its champions.
