Brad Keselowski, a former NASCAR Cup Series champion, has been a notable critic of the previous NASCAR playoff points format, voicing concerns about its impact on the sport’s competitive integrity. As the 2026 season sees a return to the Chase format, Keselowski explains why he believes this update better serves drivers, teams, and fans, making every race count and keeping the Brad Keselowski NASCAR points format highly relevant.
Kyle Busch Reflects on Frustrations with Previous Playoff Rules
Brad Keselowski, who now drives the No. 6 car and co-owns RFK Racing, became particularly outspoken about NASCAR’s former win-and-you’re-in, elimination-style approach. According to Keselowski, the system allowed drivers to clinch playoff spots early in the year, rendering some regular season races inconsequential, which he argued diminished the value of key events and affected driver motivation. When discussing this era, Keselowski recalled candid exchanges with NASCAR upper management, including a notable conversation around 2018 with President Steve O’Donnell.
“I told them, ‘Dude, the playoff format’s killing the sport.’ I remember he said to me, ‘What do you mean it’s killing the sport?’ Well, I had won two or three races earlier in the year. I’m in the middle of the season and I go to the racetrack and I’m asking myself, ‘What am I doing here?’”
– Brad Keselowski, 2012 Cup Series Champion
Kyle Busch’s concerns centered on the scenario where winning early almost automatically locked a driver into the postseason. This left some competitors, actually teammates, scrambling for a playoff berth, often forcing teams to prioritize equipment and resources for those not yet guaranteed a spot.
Keselowski described how this unfair distribution sometimes meant a successful driver, even a recent winner, might have to compete with inferior cars while the team’s primary efforts shifted toward securing playoff spots for others. This led to a sense of being sidelined and under-resourced, regardless of personal achievements in the season so far.
“You couldn’t even really be mad at the team. Putting yourself in their shoes, they’re like, ‘Man, we’ve got to get our other cars in the playoffs,’ so you couldn’t really be mad at them, you just felt trapped by the format. That was a lot of what was happening,”
– Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Co-Owner
Positive Response to the Chase Format’s Comeback
With NASCAR’s decision to reinstate the Chase points format for 2026, Keselowski has publicly supported the move, labeling it a step in the right direction. He believes the new-old system maintains competitive focus throughout the year, preventing teams from deprioritizing select races or allocating subpar equipment.
Appearing as a guest host with TJ Majors on the Dale Jr. Download podcast—while Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a break—Keselowski detailed how the current setup forces teams and drivers to pay attention to every event, making each race meaningful in terms of points and playoff eligibility.
“I like this format because there’s no race where the team’s like, ‘Hey, you don’t get the good engine.’ I really appreciate that because I don’t feel like we’re quote-unquote skipping races,”
– Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver and Team Co-Owner
This season, despite battling back from a broken femur sustained last December, Keselowski has competed in all four races, marking a focused effort by both driver and team. He secured a fifth-place finish in the iconic Daytona 500—his best showing yet this year—and currently holds 16th in the Cup Series standings, the cutoff point for Chase qualification. Only two points separate him from Daniel Suarez, who is right outside the cutoff in 17th, adding suspense as the season develops.
What the Points Format Change Means for NASCAR
The shift back to the Chase format in 2026 has significant implications for teams, drivers, and fans alike. By ensuring every race has high stakes, it aims to improve the quality of competition and keep fans engaged throughout the season. Keselowski’s advocacy for this change underscores a broader desire for fairness and consistent excitement in NASCAR, reflecting concerns shared by drivers and industry insiders. As the championship fight progresses, the new points system is set to keep teams focused and the action unpredictable, restoring meaning to each race on the schedule.
The new points format? Good with Brad K.
The old points format? He was pleading with NASCAR to change it.
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