Had it not been for the presence of the NASCAR playoff format, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic would have discovered Sunday’s Spherical of 12 finale on the Charlotte ROVAL to be only a “uninteresting, forgettable” race. Nonetheless, the drama on the playoff cutline “elevated” the race, he mentioned, extra proof as to why the playoff format is required within the sport.
“This race was very uninteresting till the final 15 laps or so. Very uninteresting,” Bianchi mentioned on The Teardown podcast. “One of many extra uninteresting playoff races in latest reminiscence, after which Logano pits, and from there, it’s tense. Every part is on the road and the final 10-15 laps no matter that was, that’s about pretty much as good because it will get for the playoffs when it comes to this case. This is the reason for those who don’t just like the playoffs, you don’t have an ideal day right this moment. It is a uninteresting, forgettable race however the playoff drama and all the pieces on the road heightened that, and it elevated it to the next degree than it might have been by itself.
“I’m glad that we had the playoff format right this moment as a result of in any other case this could have been a really forgettable race the place the winner and all the pieces else that transpired would have been an afterthought. As a substitute, we’ve received playoff drama.”
NASCAR Cup Collection Spherical of 12 finale ends with fireworks
These final 10 laps had been tense after Joey Logano made his remaining pit cease whereas Ross Chastain stayed out. By the point the white flag got here out, Chastain had a one-point benefit over Logano for the ultimate switch spot. However after Denny Hamlin handed Chastain, the 2 had been now degree on factors. Chastain made one remaining try and get by Hamlin on the final nook however ended up taking each of them out. Logano owned the tiebreaker on Chastain and superior by way of to the Spherical of 8.
Whereas that was occurring, Shane van Gisbergen was cruising to his fifth highway course win of the season. Van Gisbergen gained by a margin of 15.160 seconds. Logano wonders what there would have been to speak about popping out of the ROVAL if not for the playoff drama.
“The playoffs create drama,” Logano mentioned after the race. “It creates storylines. It creates superior moments like that. I don’t perceive what individuals don’t like about it. I actually don’t get it. And for those who’re a type of individuals who say the common season doesn’t matter, playoff factors don’t matter — one level would have been the distinction there. I preach that on a regular basis. I’m not simply saying that as a result of it really works for us. I’m saying it as a result of it’s true. Everybody likes to take a look at it in different methods, however like I mentioned, one level was the completely different there.
“In case you don’t have cutoff races and issues like that, what are you even speaking about right this moment? How Shane waxed everybody’s butt? That’s what you need? I’m simply saying, this playoff format is depraved.”
