The NASCAR playoff format has been a lightning rod for debate, and few have been as vocal as Denny Hamlin. He’s called it a “lottery,” a rguing that one wreck or pit mistake in the finale can erase a season’s worth of dominance. Look at his own career: in 2010, before the current elimination setup, Hamlin led most of the year but lost the title in the final race. Under the modern system, he’s faced even tougher breaks, like 2019 when a pit-road flub at Homestead snatched away his championship shot. For Hamlin, the idea that a single bad moment can outweigh months of excellence just doesn’t sit right.

Kevin Harvick’s 2020 season is the poster child for the format’s flaws. He racked up nine wins, owned the regular season, and still missed the Championship 4 after a rough Martinsville race

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