NASCAR followers made their disdain for the NASCAR Playoff format abundantly clear over the 2025 event's run, which culminated in victories for Kyle Larson (Cup), Corey Heim (Truck) and – most controversially – Jesse Love (Xfinity).
For NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. the format isn't only a downside, it's a "betrayal" of what the NASCAR season is meant to face for. On Tuesday's version of his Dale Jr. Obtain podcast, Earnhardt went on an expletive-filled rant the place he declared that the format of getting the Championship Race resolve your entire factor was "egregious"
“The format betrayed us actually badly,” Earnhardt stated. “I’m making an attempt to know the place my frustration or my angst is, what’s to be directed at. We’ve had this format for some time. It’s finished this earlier than, however I’ve by no means walked out of there going, ‘(expletive), dude, that was manner (expletive) egregious.’ What’s it about this specific yr? We’ve had this format, lots of people don’t prefer it, we’ve all form of not stated an excessive amount of (expletive) about it through the years. Now this yr, all people went full scorched Earth on this format. We did, all of us did and about rattling time.
“It took all people a very long time to return round to essentially what I’ve been feeling about this format because it got here into existence. Like, one race to resolve it’s too aggressive, however all of us lived with it for some time. However I by no means walked out of Homestead or Phoenix going, ‘That was simply (expletive) fallacious.’ Nicely, one time. Carl Edwards… That was the one yr that I walked out of there form of nauseous, and I’m not a Carl Edwards fan at the moment. I like Carl now, we’re good. However I used to be sitting there like that was (expletive).”
This heartbreak is barely a pace bump within the highway for Connor Zilisch's profession. 📈 A brand new @DaleJr Obtain simply hit your feeds. 🎙️ Apple: https://t.co/Hd8RJPd1usSpotify: https://t.co/zN3Gw9DYRtYouTube: https://t.co/aBaqgylAtupic.twitter.com/lvI3ifTQ5R
— Soiled Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) November 4, 2025Private Grievance
Dale Jr's gripe with the NASCAR playoff format goes deeper than simply dissatisfaction with the format and the way the race performed out. He had two drivers beneath his JR Motorsports banner in place to win the Xfinity and Truck Collection championships after Connor Zilisch and Corey Heim received their respective common season titles.
Whereas Heim received the job finished for JRM, Zilisch was not solely disadvantaged of the win, however a slew of different racing alternatives as effectively.
Feb 15, 2025; Daytona Seashore, Florida, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Collection driver Connor Zilisch (88) throughout qualifying for the United Leases 300 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures© Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
The silver lining to this entire debacle could be a whole revamp of the playoff format or possibly the entire elimination of the playoffs in favor of a full-season championship.
However the powers that be in sports activities at all times imagine that the magic ticket to larger rankings is an extended playoff collection with extra groups and athletes competing in it. There could be a compromise, however it's in all probability not going to make anybody completely satisfied.
This story was initially reported by The Spun on Nov 6, 2025, the place it first appeared within the NASCAR part. Add The Spun as a Most well-liked Supply by clicking right here.
