“Somehow, making winning more important than ever has taken away from the importance of winning.” Mark Martin’s blunt critique has fueled months of heated debate over NASCAR’s playoff format as the 2025 season barrels towards its finale. The system is under more scrutiny than ever, accused of rewarding flukes and punishing consistency.

Now, Ben Kennedy has stepped into the spotlight. After months of closed-door playoff committee meetings, simulations, and fan surveys, NASCAR’s innovation chief has finally broken his silence. The future of the championship is still wide open, and the next format could be the sport’s biggest shake-up in years.

Ben Kennedy emphasizes the importance “to do it right” amid Playoff concerns

Somebody deep inside the NASCAR corporate brain trust, a small but mi

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