Why NASCAR’s Playoff System Is Broken: Todd Lewis on the 2025 Season Finale

After a full year of racing, NASCAR crowns Kyle Larson as champion — but not everyone’s celebrating. Todd Lewis dives into why the 2025 season ended on a sour note, from playoff flaws and overtime chaos to the growing fan frustration that’s reshaping stock car racing. The NASCAR Cup Series season is officially over, but Todd Lewis isn’t satisfied. In this episode of Speed Chronicles, he breaks down how Kyle Larson’s championship win — while legitimate — exposes deep cracks in NASCAR’s current playoff and points system. Todd questions the logic behind stage racing, NASCAR overtime, and the “Game 7 moment” mentality that’s turning authentic competition into a made-for-TV spectacle. He draws comparisons to other sports, explains why “green-flag finishes” shouldn’t dictate race structure, and highlights how these manufactured moments hurt the sport’s integrity. From Connor Zilich’s dominant yet unrewarded Xfinity season to Denny Hamlin’s lost title in Phoenix, this episode explores how arbitrary rules and eliminations have left fans — and even drivers — unsatisfied. Todd also looks ahead to what changes might come after the season-ending meetings and lawsuits, plus updates across F1, IndyCar, and the business side of motorsport. Like what you hear? 👍 Subscribe to Speed Chronicles on YouTube and Rev TV for weekly motorsport analysis. 💬 Comment below — what would you change about NASCAR’s playoff system? 📅 New episodes every Wednesday: YouTube.com/@RevTVCanada #NASCAR2025 #SpeedChronicles #MotorsportAnalysis