Are you among those who feel the NASCAR Playoffs might just be the sport’s biggest misstep? By 2014, NASCAR unveiled the elimination-style playoff format, a bold gamble designed to keep fans hooked. On paper, it checked all the boxes: the high drama of a “win and you’re in” system, stage points up for grabs, elimination battles at every cut-off. Then came the grand finale, a one-race, winner-takes-all championship showdown. This recipe sounded like a sure-fire hit, but it came with a few bumps in the road.

Yes, the final 10 races often bring jaw-dropping storylines, photo finishes, Cinderella runs, and shocking upsets. But peel back the drama, and cracks start to show. The format is tangled in its own complexity: resets, point shuffles, and do-or-die moments that feel more manufactured th

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