NASCAR is looking to revamp its playoff format in the wake of the highly controversial end to the 2025 season. But NASCAR legend Kenny Wallace believes fans are focusing on the wrong things.
In the last episode of his Coffee with Kenny podcast, Wallace spoke to Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice about the new points format currently in the works. But Wallace thinks fans are too concerned about points. He invoked Allen Iverson’s iconic “practice” to make his point.
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“Y’all are excited about Sun Drop right now because of the points. It reminds me of Allen Iverson, ‘Practice? We’re talking about practice?’ I would say the same thing, ” Wallace said. “Points, we’re talking about points. I never dreamed in my life that you couldn’t watch a race without thinking about points. … It’s like, what the (expletive), Chuck? … Here’s what I would tell you, Chris Rice, was having a nice conversation with me and he just said, I know what the new points system is, and you’ll like it.
“Now, look, we don’t know what the new points system will be. However, I can say this, as Bob Pockrass reported, he says it looks like it’s going to come out in January. Now, that makes sense because there’s been a lot of drama in NASCAR. With the lawsuit, it lasted two weeks, and now it’s Christmas, and it’s just not the time to announce it. They have to have a press conference. I mean, they can announce it verbatim and type it, but the person in charge has to announce it at a press conference, not a press release, a press conference.
Call for calm
While he was at it, Wallace also decided to point out that fans were being a little too mean to drivers, teams and everyone else in the NASCAR sphere. He cited a recent interview with Mark Martin as an example.
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“Now some of you are really mean,” Wallace said. “Like Mark Martin said, you know what Mark Martin said, Mark Martin said, you all need to be able to communicate and stop being so vicious. Why can’t we just talk about it? Why do you have to hate so much? Like Allen Iverson said.
“We’re talking about points, we’re just talking about points. We’re not talking about the cars on the race track. So calm down, everyone. It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas. Let’s wait a little while, and then you can come back (expletive) to everyone. But I’m sure you’ll do this until Christmas Eve.”
September 12, 2025; Bristol, Tennessee, United States; The American flag is flown at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk before the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
The 2025 NASCAR playoffs have sparked major controversy in the sport as fans, drivers and media have openly criticized the series’ current championship system, particularly its “one race, winner takes all” finale and single-elimination playoff format. Many have argued that the system often rewards late-season chaos at the expense of consistent performance throughout the year, culminating in situations where a driver who has dominated most of the season could still lose a championship due to a late caution or a single-race result – a criticism that intensified after the season-ending race at Phoenix Raceway and other crucial moments where championship hopes tipped on unpredictable late-race events.
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Prominent voices in the sport have called for change, with some fans and analysts suggesting the format undermines credibility and does not adequately reward excellence throughout the season, prompting NASCAR to prepare possible revisions for 2026.
This story was originally published by The yarn on December 24, 2025, where he first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as Favorite source by clicking here.
