NASCAR’s playoff system has long been designed to create drama late in the season. However, it is anything but that for many fans. Criticism has been mounting over whether the system truly reflects driver performance. Analysts and drivers alike have raised concerns that the format often rewards one-off wins rather than consistent excellence. Dale Earnhardt Jr. reflected on the structure, saying, “Nobody really complained about the original 36-race point system.” To add to that, fans have questioned recent attempts to act like this is not the case amidst a decline in views.
Declining viewership has added fuel to the controversy. The second race of the postseason at World Wide Technology Raceway drew 1.525 million viewers. This was down from 1.8 million the previous year. Meanwhile, the Southern 500 dropped from 2.4 million viewers in 2024 to 1.88 million in 2025. This dip coincides with the start of the NFL season, thereby highlighting the challenge of maintaining attention. Discussions among fans, analysts, and insiders indicate that the system may be losing its appeal. Moreover, this scrutiny has only become worse with NASCAR’s thinly veiled stunts.
The discussion gained a sharper edge after a recent episode of The Teardown podcast, where Jeff Gluck mentioned that “five people called SiriusXM saying they like the playoffs.” A Twitter user captured the moment. “I made the mistake of listening to another ‘The Teardown’ playoff discussion…This is @Jordan_Bianchi face when @jeff_gluck tells him 5 people called SiriusXM saying they like the playoffs.
Followed by Jordan’s smug “I told you so” because he “talks to people”…🤦🏻‍♂️”
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This tweet reflected fan skepticism about the small sample size and the perceived smugness of Bianchi’s reaction. Many argued that citing just five supporters hardly represents the broader NASCAR audience, especially given the ongoing complaints from drivers and longtime fans.
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Reactions to the podcast clip quickly spread across platforms, including Twitter. Fans debated the legitimacy of the “five people” claim and discussed the broader playoff format. Many criticized the system itself, highlighting declining viewership and previous controversies as evidence that the current format may not satisfy the fan base.
The conversation shows that, beyond stats and ratings, perception and engagement remain central to NASCAR’s ongoing playoff debate, with fans actively shaping the discourse online.
Fans outraged as they see through NASCAR Cup Series stunt
The skepticism around SiriusXM callers being cited as evidence for playoff support was immediate and sharp. Many fans questioned not just the legitimacy of the sample size but also whether these voices were truly representative of the NASCAR Cup Series’ broader audience.
The first reaction pointed out a perceived lack of diversity in the callers. It highlighted the same familiar voices repeatedly dominating SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. “It’s the same losers who call in the Sirius all day every day it seems. Literally the same 10 people.” This response suggested that fans see the show’s anecdotal evidence as recycled opinions from a tiny echo chamber. This was instead of seeing a fair representation of the overall fanbase.
Others went further, questioning whether those who got through were carefully vetted before going on-air. A comment read, “You mean the 5 people that SiriusXM screened before being put on air?” The implication here was that NASCAR or the radio hosts might be filtering callers to showcase only favorable playoff opinions. This idea only further fueled suspicions of bias.
Some fans even tied personalities into the discussion. They pointed to SiriusXM’s on-air hosts. “Throw @DanielleTrotta into the mix, and you’d have a trifecta…” By invoking a well-known radio figure, the commenter implied that certain hosts are complicit in reinforcing NASCAR’s narrative. The implication framed the entire debate as one orchestrated push for legitimacy.
The fourth response took the skepticism to an extreme by suggesting corporate influence directly. “Are the callers to SiriusXM employees of NASCAR too?” While said half in jest, the accusation here was clear. The reaction shows just how little trust exists between fans and the league’s public messaging. To some, the idea of NASCAR planting callers does not feel far-fetched, given years of frustration over the playoff format’s legitimacy.
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Finally, one fan contrasted the small number of SiriusXM callers with much larger social media poll results. “So if I am reading it correctly, As per Jordan the 5 people calling are real but the 30,000 people who voted on @markmartin @jeff_gluck polls are Bots right ?” This response highlighted the tension between anecdotal evidence and data-driven fan opinion. It questioned why a handful of radio callers are given more weight than tens of thousands of poll responses.
All in all, this was a move that failed fantastically for NASCAR. The backlash shows a widening gap between NASCAR’s official or media-endorsed narratives and the sentiments of everyday fans. The playoff debate is no longer about formats alone. It has evolved into a matter of trust, transparency, and the broader fanbase is being heard at all.