Call it fate or fortune, but Joey Logano is undeniably the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion. The whole “how can a champion win the title while sitting 17th in points?” concept has lost its novelty. This is simply the nature of the Playoff system; at times, it favors unexpected events over steady performance. And besides, Joey Logano appears to hold a secret that others don’t.
However, if there’s one person who truly deserves sympathy, it’s Kyle Larson. Just imagine it: the driver with the most wins this season didn’t even have a direct chance at the championship, with no spots available in the final four. His teammate, William Byron, competed for the title instead but ultimately fell short to the #22 team’s ‘even-year’ magic at Phoenix. Yet, based on what we’re hearing, Kyle Larson is already preparing with a clear plan for the next season. NASCAR may even tweak some aspects of their frequently criticized system as well.
Kyle Larson’s aspirations for 2025, with a new Playoff format on the horizon
Rick Hendrick must have been eager to secure the ultimate prize for his race team’s 40th anniversary. But this year has brought a rollercoaster ride that even the most imaginative Hendrick Motorsports fans couldn’t have predicted. From achieving a 1-2-3 sweep at Martinsville to Alex Bowman’s disqualification at Watkins Glen, which allowed Joey Logano to advance to the Round of 8 in the Playoffs, the Hendrick crew has experienced it all this season.
Unlike other four-car teams at the top level in 2024, every driver on the HMS roster secured at least one win this season. However, Kyle Larson stood out by earning six wins, the highest of any driver. This achievement made him content, regardless of where he finished in the points standings. As he shared with Brad Gillie of RACER.com during a recent virtual interview, “I was super happy with the performance of our race team all year long. We had a ton of speed from race 1 to race 38, really. So, yeah, I was happy. Obviously, you want to make the final 4 and have a shot at the championship. But at the same point like, I also understand the format and know how crazy it can be…” The Playoff system, however, has proven to be a challenge for Larson this season.
Larson emphasized, “So I don’t let finishing sixth in points take anything away from our season. I know we had one of the best, if not the best season. We led the series in most every category. So, you know, really proud of the team, in their hard work, and yeah, I think we left some out on the table too…” Reflecting on the journey, Larson acknowledged that he might not have even made a Playoff run if NASCAR hadn’t granted him a waiver for missing the Coca-Cola 600. Instead, the story took a different turn, and Larson returned with a renewed sense of purpose. Just two weeks after that controversial weekend in Charlotte, Larson claimed victory at the Sonoma road course. This win further solidified his season, as he had already secured his Playoff spot earlier with a dominating performance in Vegas.
After falling one round short of a championship bid this year, the #5 driver now has a different perspective for the upcoming season. His approach is straightforward: “Hopefully, we can continue to evolve and get stronger as a team, win some more races, lead some more laps, and who knows what the new format will be? So maybe it will benefit us somehow.”
It’s widely known that NASCAR is considering potential changes to their postseason format for the 2025 season, following considerable public outcry, and Sports Business Journal has hinted at even larger adjustments possibly arriving as soon as the year after. For now, everything else remains speculative, with nothing fully confirmed. Still, Larson’s ambitions for complete dominance might pave the way for something exceptional next year. The current record for most wins in a season with the Next-Gen car is six, set by his Hendrick teammate William Byron in 2023. Could Kyle Larson break that record? It’s certainly within his reach. However, the real buzz around Larson is stemming from a different part of his interview.
Yung Money’s remarks capture attention in the stands
The RACER Channel’s ‘Race Industry Week 2024 Livestream Webinar’ found its way to the NASCAR subreddit, where a user shared the video with the caption: “Larson indicates new championship format coming next year.” While it’s not exactly ‘breaking news’ that NASCAR is contemplating a new Playoff format, Larson’s recent statements have brought extra focus to the idea, making it feel more tangible than ever for fans. While complaints and concerns may linger, the sport seems to be responding to its most vocal supporters in the grandstands.
Fans are now speculating about the potential changes that NASCAR might soon implement under its experimental plans. One fan humorously commented, “Let’s hear some overreactions as to what it will be,” before adding, “Wasn’t one of the main rumors that the playoffs guys will get an independent point system? I think that’s even stupider but I see that as something NASCAR would do.” While a separate points system for the postseason could make sense in theory, NASCAR already has a points structure designed for the Playoffs, though its effectiveness remains a topic of debate—especially after Joey Logano’s championship.
Another fan proposed a more reasonable request for change: “In all likelihood, it’s probably just changing how some points are handed out and putting some caps on win and you’re in. Major changes like making the F4 3 races would likely take more than a season to decide on, but I hope that’s what happens.” This fan favored a three-race final 4 round over a winner-takes-all finale. While this idea is intriguing, it raises several questions, such as whether this would require adding three more races to the schedule.
Other fans sarcastically joked, “It’s really not that hard for NASCAR to significantly change the format, but then again, we have people with IQs of 50 running the sport.” However, we can assure you that the individuals making these high-level decisions have plenty of experience and oversight in their roles. That said, even the best minds can occasionally get things wrong, and in NASCAR’s case, it might happen more often than desired. Nevertheless, there is hope for change in the near future.
As one member of the NASCAR community pointed out, “If we get a system that rewards the best driver over the course of a season I can see why Larson would be excited.” This makes sense, as Kyle Larson is consistently one of the most skilled drivers in the sport, always pushing his car to its limits in search of victory. Will he be able to redeem himself next season? That’s the question Larson must answer as the new season approaches, bringing with it some fresh changes for everyone to adapt to.
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