Jeff Burton has been round NASCAR for a very long time, making his debut as a driver within the Xfinity Sequence again through the 1988 season. He went on to make almost 700 begins on the Cup degree, profitable 21 races. However for the previous decade, he has labored as TV analyst for NBC’s NASCAR protection.
This week, I had the chance to talk with Burton on behalf of Motorsport.com, discussing a myriad of matters together with the hotly debated playoff format. Rumors are accelerating round doable modifications, specializing in opening the ultimate spherical past a single race. No official bulletins have been made, however one could possibly be coming very quickly.
“I need to be clear about one thing,” Burton stated in regards to the present format and potential modifications. “I imagine that the individuals who do it finest are those who’re profitable, and so if the rule is modified, it doesn’t imply that the those who received championships underneath this format weren’t deserving. The rivals should play by the principles that the sanctioning physique creates, and those that do it finest are the champions – interval, finish of story.
“I do know folks say ‘properly a playoff shouldn’t be indicative of who had the most effective season.’ Effectively yeah, you can also make that case in each sport. After which they’ll say ‘properly it’s completely different in motorsports’ – okay, I can hear that argument. It’s completely different, and motorsports is completely different than different sports activities, however different sports activities have their challenges too. Have a look at the accidents in soccer, basketball – there are all types of issues that make each sport distinctive to themselves”
Burton “good with” doable format modifications
NASCAR Cup championship trophy
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Burton addressed these important of current champions, akin to three-time champion Joey Logano, who received the 2024 title with a mean end of 17.1. Burton stated he “doesn’t purchase into this factor the place some folks need to say that the best way this works, we don’t have a legit champion. I name full horse crap on that.
“I may even say that if we had extra races to find out a champion, I’m good with that. I believe that does do some issues that some critics of the present playoffs the place one race shouldn’t imply this a lot – I can get round that. That could be a life like argument, however I can also’t sit right here and inform you that Joey Logano, or Ryan Blaney isn’t a deserving champion. They did it. Nobody else did. That’s the place I get somewhat bit flustered on this dialog. Folks can disagree whether or not one race is true or not. I perceive and listen to either side of it. However don’t diminish the accomplishments in an excellent high-stress, high-pressure surroundings who delivered. Groups, pit crews, drivers – don’t diminish their effort. That’s not honest to them.
“I’m good if the business decides let’s have extra race to find out a champion. I’m 100% good with it. It’s an argument and dialogue value having, for certain. If it goes in that route, I’ll be a supporter of it.”
Evolution of NASCAR playoffs
The format has modified fairly a bit through the years. After a long time with a full season factors system, NASCAR applied the ten-race ‘Chase’ in 2004. This adopted a yr the place Matt Kenseth received a single race in March, after which used consistency in incomes factors to win the crown. Nevertheless, after Jimmie Johnson received a report 5 consecutive ‘Chase’ period titles, the format began to alter some extra. There was a push to reward winners, particularly after Jamie McMurray missed the 2010 postseason after profitable each the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.
Finally, the 2004 change advanced into the multi-round, elimination-style format we now have in 2025, the place profitable a race is equal to a golden ticket, erasing any factors deficit and guaranteeing development for title challengers.
Regardless of the unpredictable nature of it, Crew Penske has managed to win the final three playoff titles over drivers who had higher seasons total.
Burton additionally predicts that a few of the present complaints will not go away, even with a format change, as some will at all times need the factors system of outdated.
“I additionally know that any person finally that had a extremely good common season could have an issue in one of many races and any person we’ll say ‘properly that’s not honest. They need to have received the championship.’ “I’m fairly certain the New England Patriots might make that very same argument. I’m fairly the Panthers had an everyday season that was the most effective common season of anyone, however they didn’t win the Tremendous Bowl so that they weren’t the champions. Each single sport can have that very same dialogue … I understand how exhausting everybody works to win the championship, and I’m not gonna diminish the individuals who received it – I don’t give a rattling what (the format) was,” he emphasised.
Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
To additional show his level, Burton went on to reference Benny Parsons, who received the 1973 title regardless of solely managing to complete on the lead lap in a single race (his solely victory that yr).
“He did what he wanted to do to win the championship, and that doesn’t diminish his championship simply because he completed on the lead lap one time,” declared Burton.
“The one who received it deserved it as a result of they did it and the opposite ones didn’t. That’s my tackle it and I clearly see either side of it, and it’s worthy of a dialogue. I’m glad I don’t should make the choice as a result of I believe it’s a troublesome resolution.”
Motorsport.com then requested if Logano’s current triumphs have supercharged this debate, which has been ongoing for some time earlier than gaining momentum in current months. “I don’t know,” admitted Burton. “I actually assume them not having the most effective common season after which profitable the championship places some folks within the place to say that.”
The ultimate top-10 for the “Chase for the Championship”: Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler
Photograph by: Autostock
Burton additionally seemed again on the outdated format and why it was modified within the first place following the 2003 season. “There was a real perception that followers wished to see a extra aggressive championship battle, and for the final race to imply extra,” defined Burton.
“We had some unbelievable championship battles too underneath the outdated format (full-season factors), however we additionally had some that weren’t even a battle. So there was a thought, ‘Hey how can we make this higher?’ Should you go searching, (racing) is the one sport that doesn’t have a postseason. In order that’s why that occurred, to try to create a postseason the identical method each different sport does. It’s fascinating to me why folks say ‘racing can’t have a postseason’ however each different sport on this planet can. I simply don’t get that argument. I’m not saying it ought to be the identical.”
No matter the place you stand on this debate, change seems to be simply across the nook.
The present format has been principally unaltered since 2017, and whereas there will not be a return to the pre-Chase period, NASCAR seems to be near removing the one-race finale. If it was opened as much as 4 races as some have steered, then the ultimate spherical of the 2026 championship would include Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
We’ll have extra from Jeff Burton on Friday, the place he’ll talk about his son’s journey again down into the Xfinity Sequence, and the way troublesome will probably be for rising stars like Connor Zilisch to make the leap into Cup subsequent yr.
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