“Stubborn” Chris Buescher Breaks Silence on Playoff Mentality in 4-Words

NASCAR’s one-race, winner-take-all playoff format has been a lightning rod for years, with fans and drivers griping that a single bad day can wipe out a season’s worth of work. Joey Logano’s 2024 title, won despite a low average finish, poured fuel on the debate, pushing NASCAR to rethink things for 2026. A playoff committee, including drivers, officials, media, and manufacturers, is meeting next week to chew over changes, from a multi-race Championship 4 to stricter qualifying rules or even a smaller playoff field. But this doesn’t stop the garage voices from weighing in with their own strong opinions.

Past formats have sparked similar fights. Kyle Busch’s 2015 title despite missing 11 races, Chase Elliott’s 2020 win over Kevin Harvick’s nine victories, and Logano’s 2018 and 2024 upsets show the system’s knack for drama over consistency. Now, Chris Buescher is weighing in with his own take as Bristol’s Night Race looms as the 2025 Round of 16 cutoff.

Buescher’s old-school playoff stance

At Bristol, Chris Buescher didn’t mince words with the press, giving his stance on the playoff mentality, “I still like the 36 race playoff, that’s always been my vote. Little stubborn when it comes to change but definitely I would prefer it that way, enjoy racing that way for our Xfinity championship.” Post that, he summed it up with this four-word tweet: “36 race playoff format,” an idea that is a throwback to the days when the full season decided the champion, rewarding grinders over one-off heroes.

Buescher has skin in this game. His 2015 Xfinity Series title with Roush Fenway Racing came from steady points hauling over 33 races, not just his two wins. That year, he edged out Chase Elliott by staying consistent, a stark contrast to today’s elimination format, where a single DNF can end a dream. His love for the old system fits his methodical style at RFK Racing, where he has racked up fifteen top-10s in 2025.

He doubled down but stayed humble, “I don’t [know] enough about it to say better or worse I’d wanna say that change would be good but yea I can’t say anything.” Buescher is not out here yelling like Denny Hamlin or Kyle Busch, who have ripped the format for shortchanging year-long dominance. He is cautious, admitting he is no expert on the proposed tweaks such as multi-race finales, tighter qualification, or fewer playoff spots.

His measured take reflects his reputation as a cool-headed driver, not one to stir the pot but ready to speak his truth. The current format, born in 2004 and revamped in 2014, has fans split. Some love the drama, others hate how it burned drivers like Jeff Gordon in 2007, who lost despite a 350-point lead, or Ryan Newman in 2014, who made the Championship 4 with zero wins. Buescher’s nod to a full-season championship shows he is rooting for consistency.

His “36 race playoff format” tweet echoes the sentiment, doubling down on his love for the grind of a full-season fight. It is no shock he is digging in. His 2025 season, with 15 top-10s and that Watkins Glen upset, proves he thrives when the long game matters.

Keselowski’s Bristol tire puzzle

While Buescher pushes for a full-season mindset, his RFK Racing teammate Brad Keselowski is grappling with a more immediate challenge: Bristol’s tricky new tires. “Our weekly science experiment continues,” Keselowski quipped after Friday’s practice. Goodyear’s new right-side tires, meant to wear faster for more exciting racing, did not degrade as expected, leaving drivers puzzled.

“The tires held up really, really well today. I’m surprised by that, but we will see tomorrow. Time will tell. It will be a different test as it gets into the night, more cars on the track at one time, our weekly science experiment continues.” he said. Last year’s Bristol race saw rapid tire wear spark chaos, but 2025’s practice suggests a different beast, forcing teams to rethink setups for Saturday’s Night Race, the Round of 16 cutoff.

Keselowski is starting 18th in the No. 6 Ford, out of the playoff mix after a tough 2025 with only eight top-10s. His “science experiment” take ties to Buescher’s playoff gripes. Both RFK drivers want a format that rewards preparation and consistency, not unpredictable variables like tire wear or one-off wrecks.

Bristol’s high banks, where Keselowski has won three times, could shake up the field, especially for playoff bubble drivers like Shane van Gisbergen or Austin Cindric, who need points to advance. The sport is at a crossroads, balancing consistency with the chaos that makes nights like Bristol unforgettable.