INDIANAPOLIS — Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing co-owner and driver of the No. 6 Ford Mustang, publicly endorsed Chase Elliott’s critique of NASCAR’s current playoff format on X, sparking a conversation about the sport’s future. Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, advocated for a full-season points championship, arguing it better reflects a driver’s consistency. Keselowski agreed, citing the parity of NASCAR’s Next Gen cars as a key factor, while also calling the existing playoff system “stale,” a sentiment that resonated with fans online.
Elliott, driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet, locked into the playoffs with a win at Atlanta, where he edged Brad Keselowski on the final lap for his 20th career win, securing a berth.
Chase Elliott argued that the current format, which emphasizes late-season performance over a full 36-race schedule, undervalues sustained excellence.
Keselowski responded, “strikes me just now, part of what’s holding the Nextgen car back in popularity is that the parity it has generated can’t be recognized and celebrated in a playoff format.”
Keselowski’s agreement stems from the Next Gen car’s design, introduced in 2022, which has leveled performance across teams. In 2025, 12 different drivers won races through the Indianapolis event on July 27, compared to 10 in 2024, per NASCAR.com. This parity, Keselowski noted on X, reduces the gap between teams, making a season-long championship viable.
Fans on X echoed the drivers’ frustrations, with posts garnering over 5,000 likes praising the idea of scrapping the 16-driver, 10-race playoff structure introduced in 2014. Many cited the 2012 season, when Brad Keselowski won the Cup Series title under a points-based system, amassing 2,400 points over 36 races, per ESPN. His five wins and 13 top-fives that year underscored the consistency Chase Elliott champions.
Despite his support, Brad Keselowski acknowledged the playoff format’s drama, which delivered five overtime finishes in 2024.
RFK Racing, under Keselowski’s leadership, has thrived, with both its Cup entries reaching the 2023 playoffs. Keselowski’s 2024 Darlington win ended a 110-race drought, securing his playoff spot. As NASCAR heads to the Chicago Street Race on July 6, 2025, Keselowski and Elliott’s dialogue has ignited debate, with fans hopeful for a format that rewards sustained brilliance.
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