Instigator / Con
21
1421
rating
30
debates
38.33%
won
Topic
#6384
The NASCAR playoffs are a good championship format
Status
Finished
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
Winner & statistics
After 3 votes and with 18 points ahead, the winner is...
Mharman
Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Rated
- Number of rounds
- 3
- Time for argument
- Three days
- Max argument characters
- 10,000
- Voting period
- Two weeks
- Point system
- Multiple criterions
- Voting system
- Open
- Minimal rating
- None
Contender / Pro
3
1589
rating
219
debates
54.34%
won
Description
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is an American motorsport league with three divisions: The Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck series.
All three series use a knockout-style playoff format, with a regular season for qualification.
Multiple three race rounds eliminate drivers at the bottom of the playoff standings, until four drivers remain for a winner-take-all race at season’s end.
You should probably look it up because there’s a bit more to it than that.
Round 1
Hello, and thank you to my opponent for this debate.
For an overview of the NASCAR Playoffs Format(s), you can read here.
A. System from a competitive integrity standpoint
Folks, when you ask what the point of a championship is, there is only one answer that comes to mind: Determining the best team or player for that season. The NASCAR Playoff doesn't just fail to do this, it actively impedes the process of determining the best team.
1. 35 good races, all for naught.
With how the system currently is, consistency goes unrewarded. A driver could, in theory, win 35 races, place 2nd in the 36th and final races, and lose the championship. While the theorized scenario has never happened and likely never will, several examples serve as a soft version:
I. Carl edwards 2016
II. Kevin harvick 2020
III. Chase elliot 2022
2. Bailouts: The other side of the coin
Conversely, the system allows for a driver who has not driven to championship standard to win the final races and become a champion, over a more deserving driver.
I. Jimmie Johnson 2016
II. Joey Logano multiple seasons
3. 25 Bad races, all for a miracle
On top of this, the qualification for the playoff format allows for drivers who have been racing poorly to obtain a single win and be treated like they deserve a shot.
I. superspeedways allow for luck based wins due to the frequency and intensity of wrecks
----jeb burton
----michael mcdowell
II. road course ringers who race poorly on ovals can be treated like they are worth a shot simply because they have one good type of track
----shane van gisbergen
III. overtime rewards luck-based wins far more when the playoffs exist. Overtimes already allows for multi-caution wreckfest that extend beyond the scheduled distance to occur
IV. weather is the same as overtimes
----chris buescher (fog)
----justin haley (rain)
V. austin dillon is an example of one driver who has entered the playoffs multiple times due to a single win, despite never being a contender for the championship
----all examples
4. lower avg finish of champion
Since the beginning of the format, the champion has had a lower average finish than in previous years, indicating their worse performances are being rewarded, and better ones are being ignored. Source: Slapshoes vid on the playoffs, Ellyproductions's vid on Joey Logano after his 3rd chip
B. from entertainment value
I. like it or not, an illegitimate and gimmicky system detracts from the entertainment value.NASCAR used to advertise itself as a serious organization ,but when the system is as anti-competitive as it is, there is no excitement of thinking about who the best driver is, knowing they aren't gonna get the splotlight for it. There's no rewarding feeling knowing the champion of that year is going to be controversial.
II. sacrificed the meaning of individual races- Individual races matter less. Sure, a win locks you in the playoffs, but beyond that, they have little championship implications, especially when compared to the last 10 races. this means that once their driver is locked in, fans can simply tune out. Since the individual races matter so little now, there is less incentive to watch.
III. wreckfests, desperate moves, unsatisfying results. On top of that, the system has created an incentive for drivers to play dirty out of desperation- to either enter the playoffs or to advance to the next round, or to eliminate a major competitor.
-- Austin dillon richmond 2024
--joey logano nashville 2024
--ryan Newman 2014 (late move in Phoenix on Kyle Larson)
--kevin harvick 2020 (attempt to spin Kyle Busch)
--joey logano 2015 (feud with Matt Kenseth)
--denny Hamlin 2018 (punting of Chase Elliot)
-nielsen ratings
Neilsen ratings have not increased because of the playoffs. As a matter of fact, ratings have continued to decline. While not the sole contributor, the playoffs have not helped
--nascar ratings
--comparison to f1
--why it matters:
-oversaturation of clutch moments
failure to solve 2003 problems
-when the system was broken
--matt crafton's 0 win chip
--daniel hemric's 1 win chip
--ryan newman's near 1 win chip
-better solution
--increased points for wins
Forfeited
Round 2
Extend. I'll offer a draw to my opponent as well.
Forfeited
Round 3
I rescind the draw offer.
My opponent did not make an argument, while I did. Vote Con!
Forfeited
this one too plz
Round 1 arguments, I couldnt type it out fast enough. Started too late