“Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr Were Both at Risk..” – Hendrick Motorsports Legends’ Shortcomings Paved the Way for Controversial NASCAR System

For a fairly long time, NASCAR has been implementing the use of a Playoff system. Over here, 16 drivers are separated from the pack and are in contention to fight for the championship. From there, the 16 drivers are systematically eliminated until a final showdown between four contenders in the last race. In the early stages, the Playoffs blanketed the Top 10 drivers, before increasing to 12 and later on to 16. In light of this, ex-Hendrick Motorsports star, Dale Earnhardt Jr and podcast co-host Mike Davis asked NASCAR CEO Brian France about the expansion.

Davis said, “Is it not true that the expansion from 10 to 12. Therefore, because it increased the chance of getting your stars in the Playoffs, while Dale was one of them? I remember the year, it might have been 2005 or 06, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr were both at risk of not making the field. If I remember it correctly, the field expanded right after that, cause I don’t think either one of them made it.”

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How did Davis react to suggestions of the Hendrick Motorsports duo being the trigger?

Of course, he was quick to insist that the format was not tweaked to favor anyone. Davis was referring to the 2006 season where Dale Jr finished the final regular season race in 17th. Gordon had an even worse race, being classified in 31st at the Richmond Raceway. Fortunately, the Dale Earnhardt Inc driver and Hendrick Motorsports star just about squeaked in.

France said, “Well we don’t do it for one driver, of course. The idea that you say to not leave somebody out in a given year. Sure, but here’s what breaks the tie internally at NASCAR. How do we stack up with other Playoff formats, do we have too many, is it 50% of the field? We’re right in a good spot, we’re right where everybody else is. We’re not overloaded where the whole field goes in. We are in a good place, so that allowed us to expand it.”

Now, it appears that there is a balance with 16 drivers being eligible to reach the Playoff stage. From 2007 until 2012, only 12 drivers could make the Playoffs. In 2013, there was an unusual situation with 13 drivers, after some shenanigans resulted in Jeff Gordon being added. Finally, from 2014 onwards, the Playoff field has expanded to 16 drivers, and it has been this way to this day.

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