Being someone who shaped the sport, Richard Petty has in the past been quite relentless in expressing his opinions. And in the latest episode of his Petty Race Recap podcast, The King aired his displeasure against NASCAR on the current playoff format, while longtime crew chief Dale Inman agreed completely.
Richard Petty's View: Champions Really Earn It over the Year
Dominating the NASCAR scene with seven championships in the Cup Series, Petty says the current playoff-style championship really cheapens what it means to be the best driver in a year. According to him, being crowned as a champion in one or two big races doesn't illustrate consistency or all-around excellence.
“I still think to have a champion of NASCAR that is a year-long championship,” Richard Petty said. “It's not a one-race championship, it's not a four-race championship..it should be...if we run 36 races, who is the best out of those 36...they should be the champion.”
The sentiment is shared by many traditionalists, who feel NASCAR used to recognize endurance, strategy, and season-long performance as opposed to just one big finale.
Dale Inman Agrees
Dale Inman, the Hall of Fame crew chief of Petty and his right-hand man through the championship years, seconded Petty's sentiment without hesitation.
“I'm with Richard on that. First race, they start it...36 races, they end it and whoever's got the most points is the champion.”
It is this stance that adds to the ongoing debate over whether the current NASCAR playoff model really settles on the best driver.
Why the Debate Still Burns
The controversy gained steam when Joey Logano won the Cup Series last year with an average finish of 17.1, the lowest ever for a NASCAR champion. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, with six victories, was not even in the Championship 4.
This very inconsistency leads the fans to question whether the format truly rewards the best driver over the season. While for someone like Logano, it is just the unpredictability and drama of the playoffs defending themselves, for a veteran like Petty and Inman, the ultimate accolade in sport should be dictated by tradition, not television spectacle.
The conversation around the championship system is evolving right along with NASCAR. But with big names like Richard Petty and Dale Inman standing tall for a total return to the roots, the battle between spectacle and substance may very well get revived yet again, bringing to mind the fact that NASCAR always stood for just a little bit more than one race.
Richard Petty's View: Champions Really Earn It over the Year
Dominating the NASCAR scene with seven championships in the Cup Series, Petty says the current playoff-style championship really cheapens what it means to be the best driver in a year. According to him, being crowned as a champion in one or two big races doesn't illustrate consistency or all-around excellence.
“I still think to have a champion of NASCAR that is a year-long championship,” Richard Petty said. “It's not a one-race championship, it's not a four-race championship..it should be...if we run 36 races, who is the best out of those 36...they should be the champion.”
FAN QUESTION: Would you rather have the 10 race Chase format or the playoffs?
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) October 6, 2025
Via X user, @TheBraden_
Full Race Recap and more answers to fan questions tomorrow at 8am on the Petty Family Racing YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/wnFPsiBU0f
The sentiment is shared by many traditionalists, who feel NASCAR used to recognize endurance, strategy, and season-long performance as opposed to just one big finale.
Dale Inman Agrees
Dale Inman, the Hall of Fame crew chief of Petty and his right-hand man through the championship years, seconded Petty's sentiment without hesitation.
“I'm with Richard on that. First race, they start it...36 races, they end it and whoever's got the most points is the champion.”
It is this stance that adds to the ongoing debate over whether the current NASCAR playoff model really settles on the best driver.
Why the Debate Still Burns
The controversy gained steam when Joey Logano won the Cup Series last year with an average finish of 17.1, the lowest ever for a NASCAR champion. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, with six victories, was not even in the Championship 4.
This very inconsistency leads the fans to question whether the format truly rewards the best driver over the season. While for someone like Logano, it is just the unpredictability and drama of the playoffs defending themselves, for a veteran like Petty and Inman, the ultimate accolade in sport should be dictated by tradition, not television spectacle.
The conversation around the championship system is evolving right along with NASCAR. But with big names like Richard Petty and Dale Inman standing tall for a total return to the roots, the battle between spectacle and substance may very well get revived yet again, bringing to mind the fact that NASCAR always stood for just a little bit more than one race.
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