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If there’s one thing certain about Justin Marks, it’s his discontent with the current playoff system. The debate over a one-race championship format in NASCAR has been raging for the past year, with pressure mounting on the playoff committee to implement changes for 2026. And Marks is all here for it. Fresh off Conor Zilisch’s Phoenix heartbreak, Marks didn’t hold back on criticizing the playoff system, saying, “I think a one-race championship was a great experiment, and it was an interesting journey, but I don’t think that’s where we should go from here on out The 19-year-old star’s championship dreams came to a halt despite leading most laps due to the winner-take-all one-race finale. And now, as the offseason takes over, the playoff committee is burning the midnight oil to deliver the best format next year. Meanwhile, the Trackhouse team owner gave his view on how the playoffs should look. ADVERTISEMENT Justin Marks calls for balance in deciding the new playoff system Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, the 44-year-old veteran said, “Balance is what’s required in the world today to be an entertainment property that gets people excited with the fact that you are running a sport. And when you run a sport, you just aren’t going to have those game five buzzer-beater moments or bottom-of-the-ninth home run home series moments, every single time you go. Like some years, the Super Bowl is a one position game with two minutes left, and some years it’s a blowout. You can’t mess with that.” Just take the Phoenix finale. It took an unexpected turn when William Byron’s right rear tire blew out, sending the race into overtime. That moment opened the door for Kyle Larson, who seized the lead on the restart and clinched the championship. Denny Hamlin, once in contention for the title, saw his hopes fade in the chaos. After the checkered flag, the discussion quickly shifted from the finish to a bigger question. Should a season-long championship really come down to a single race? The one-race finale has delivered what NASCAR wanted: high-stakes drama, unpredictability, and viral moments. Phoenix has seen its share of thrilling endings, and the 2025 showdown was no different. Yet, the same format erases a year’s worth of consistency. A blown tire, pit road error, or a minor mechanical issue can undo months of excellence. ADVERTISEMENT However, the Trackhouse Racing team owner also acknowledged the current playoff system while calling for changes. He added, ” I think as I said…I think that the one-race final championship was worth trying. I really do. It was a very transitional time in the history of NASCAR, it was a good experiment. I don’t think it’s the right thing for the future. I think there is a balance between the one final race and the 36 full races. But I think that the last race, the champion is to be crowned by the person that performs the best over the course of the season.” ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports It’s not hard to see where he’s coming from. Connor Zilisch, who will be racing for Trackhouse as a full-time Cup Series driver, won a staggering 10 races in the Xfinity Series. But the 19-year-old ended up third at Phoenix Raceway, narrowly missing out on the championship to his best friend, Jesse Love. Fans felt Denny Hamlin was hard done by as well, especially after leading over 200 laps in the final race, only for a late caution to undo months of hard work. Marks’ man ignited a long-standing debate. Before the playoff era, champions were crowned for season-long consistency, a system that ended after Matt Kenseth’s 2003 title. The current elimination-style playoff, introduced in 2014, has earned both praise for its spectacle and criticism for its all-or-nothing nature. Marks believes that while playoffs bring excitement, the format gives luck too much influence in deciding the ultimate champion. And amid Marks awaiting the verdict on the new playoff format, the 44-year-old team owner is also eyeing a Tony Stewart legacy with Connor Zilisch. But before Mark chased that glory, NASCAR’s president hinted at what fans must expect from the new playoff format ADVERTISEMENT Steve O’Donnell drops hints at renewed 2026 playoff format Denny Hamlin’s heartbreaking loss at Phoenix after leading most of the finale could only be undone by a late-race caution, which has once again fueled criticism of the win-or-go-home setup. Now, NASCAR’s leadership says it’s time for a system that rewards season-long performance, not just who gets lucky. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s president, said, ” Something that as you look at the future of the sport, making sure that a driver who has delivered all season long has the ability to be named a champion and not have something maybe come down to one race. That’s really been the focal point.” ADVERTISEMENT The updated format, set to debut in 2026, is still being fine-tuned, but the message is clear. Consistency will matter more and more, and drivers will have a fair chance to fight for wins and the championship. O’Donnell added, “We want to reward winning. We’re going to continue to do that. Whatever model we come up with, winning is very important. The one-race thing has been a factor. There’s a lot of circumstances that can happen.” For NASCAR, this overhaul isn’t just about rule tweaks. It’s about rebuilding trust with fans, ensuring the best drivers get their due, and keeping racing exciting all year long. With fans waiting for a verdict to be dropped, all eyes and ears will be on NASCAR as it makes its boldest shift yet.
