NASCAR playoff race exposing fatal flaw in current format

In 2022, NASCAR saw arguably its most exciting playoff race ever since the format was changed in 2014 to include 16 drivers. 

With the exception of Ryan Blaney, everyone who made it had to win their way in. Blaney would have joined Martin Truex, Jr. in shockingly missing the cut had Kurt Busch not been sidelined with an injury. Sixteen drivers won during the 26-race regular season and three more picked up victories during the playoffs.

This season, though, parity has regressed back to the mean with few upset winners. Additionally, playoff regulars Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman have combined to miss 10 races while normal bubble drivers such as Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe have all been hit with massive points penalties to take them out of the running.

Where has that left NASCAR? With Michael McDowell, A.J. Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez and rookie Ty Gibbs currently fighting for the final playoff spot.

None of those names inspire a whole lot of excitement as drivers worthy of competing for a championship, and it's unlikely that any of them would advance past the first round should they qualify. They would be the racing equivalent of a sub-.500 NFL or NBA team making the postseason -- cool that they got there, but really just filling out the field.

This is an issue that's arisen from time to time with NASCAR's current playoff format, during seasons that lack competitive depth. In 2015, Paul Menard made the playoffs on points and nobody thought for two seconds that he'd get very far. Ditto for Ryan Newman in 2019. 

Drivers who've come from deep in the standings to earn their way in with a surprising victory have also been known to flame out as nearly automatic first-round exits. Think of Chris Buescher in 2016, Cole Custer in 2020, or McDowell in 2021.

The problem here is simple: NASCAR has too many entries in its playoff system. Most years will not have 16 or more drivers who can conceivably make a push for a championship, and nobody wants to see the fight for the final few slots turn into a race between mediocrities.

Back when the playoffs were first introduced in 2004 as the Chase for the Cup, only 10 drivers qualified and there was no win-and-in rule; it was simply the highest 10 drivers in points after 26 races. In 2007 the field was expanded to 12, and then in 2011, the final two positions were made into "wild card" slots for drivers who won a race from between 11th and 20th in points. This created thrilling battles in which big names regularly had to fight for their playoff lives.

Making the playoffs in any sport should be a true achievement. It should mean you've performed at a high level all season, and you have a legitimate shot at a championship. Nobody should be just happy to be there -- but that's the situation NASCAR has created this year.