“One race is just not the way to do it,” Denny Hamlin had said earlier in July. This came after rumors began swirling around NASCAR’s playoff format for 2026, suggesting the sport could be on the brink of a major shift and sparking fresh debate across the garage and fan base. Hamlin pointed to NBC’s influence in shaping the playoff format and emphasized why creating a bigger sample size for the crown is important. Now, Richard Petty is echoing that same viewpoint.

While some might dismiss Hamlin’ s opinion, given he hasn’t yet won a championship, Petty’s perspective carries decades of authority. His seven Cup Series championships between 1964 and 1979 were awarded based on total points accumulated across the full season; a system that rewarded consistency, reliability, and endurance, r

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