Kyle Larson Slams NASCAR Playoff Format Amid Claims Penske Has Advantage

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Kyle Larson has voiced his frustration with the NASCAR playoff format, which came under scrutiny during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Season.

Team Penske driver Joey Logano clinched his third Cup Series title. The outcome of the championship stirred controversy as it overshadowed the efforts of racers who had more consistent performances in the regular season.

The NASCAR playoff format, introduced in 2014, has been a topic of debate. It involves a 16-driver field reduced through elimination rounds, with the Championship 4 race held at Phoenix Raceway.

Critics, like Kyle Larson, argue it’s problematic. Larson nearly clinched the championship but was vocal about the system’s focus on the final race.

Kyle Larson poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jared C. Tilton

He humorously shared frustration, stating during an interview with FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass:

“The format is really difficult and when it comes down to just one race at the end, there’s an opportunity that it can happen. I think we could win 20 races in a year and still not win the championship…”

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During the 2024 season, Larson stood out, winning six races, though not securing the championship. His impressive year was reminiscent of his dominant 2021 season, leading him to voice concerns about the playoff system’s fairness.

Larson specifically criticized the advantage Team Penske enjoys at Phoenix Raceway, noting how their cars dominate the track. He added:

“I wouldn’t be surprised because the [Team Penske] cars are just so dominant at [Phoenix Raceway]. If nothing changes, I think, anytime a Penske car makes the Final 4 at Phoenix, they’re gonna have the best opportunity to win currently.”

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Despite these criticisms, NASCAR President Steve Phelps has defended the playoff format. While NASCAR acknowledges the feedback, the decision for 2025 is to maintain the current format without changes—a decision in the face of mounting debate and calls for reform.

NASCAR Executive Vice President John Probst recently confirmed, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:

“I don’t think we want to get in the habit of making small little tweaks every season to the playoffs.

“Where we landed was for 2025 not making any changes to the playoffs. Throughout the course of this year, we will get a working group together with some media folks, OEMs, Goodyear, drivers. … We probably talked to most of the folks one-on-one about, where are we at? What are we thinking?

“Basically, we look at that as a workstream for a group of our stakeholders this year, to look at it holistically.”

In reflecting on his 2024 season, Larson acknowledged that his 2021 Cup title helped him deal with the recent season’s outcome. He commented:

“If I didn’t have a championship already, I would say no, I wouldn’t be good with that. I think having a championship already allowed me to get over it, more so, this past season.”

For the latest NASCAR news, head over to Newsweek Sports.



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