In a bold and unfiltered critique that has ignited fierce debates across the motorsports world, Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, has called for the complete elimination of the league’s controversial playoff system. Speaking in a recent interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck as part of his “12 Questions” series, Keselowski didn’t hold back, labeling the format “very unhealthy for the sport” and insisting it must “go away.” His remarks, delivered just days after the conclusion of the Round of 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 14, 2025, where he finished a close second, have sparked a massive explosion on social media, with fans, drivers, and analysts weighing in on what could be a pivotal moment for NASCAR’s future.

Keselowski’s frustration stems from a deep-seated belief that the playoff structure, introduced in 2004 and refined over the years into a 10-race elimination bracket, undermines the integrity and overall appeal of stock car racing. “The nuance of having 10 races that are more important than 20-some others is very unhealthy for the sport,” he stated bluntly. “It’s demeaning to the other tracks and races… It muddies the water; it’s not working for the sport.” For Keselowski, who has experienced both the highs and lows of the system—including benefiting from it during his championship run—the format creates an artificial hierarchy that diminishes the value of consistent performance throughout the 36-race season. Instead of rewarding drivers and teams for excellence over the long haul, it prioritizes high-stakes drama in a compressed postseason, often at the expense of the regular season’s grind.

Central to Keselowski’s argument is his accusation that NASCAR tracks are overly focused on revenue generation, which he sees as eroding the sport’s commercial viability and authenticity. Many speedways, he pointed out, operate on a skeletal staff outside of race weekends, struggling to diversify income streams beyond ticket sales and NASCAR-sanctioned events. “The tracks, in general, need to find more ways to generate revenue outside of NASCAR,” Keselowski explained. “A lot of these tracks you go to, if you come to them on a Tuesday, three weeks before or after the race, there’s like three people that work there.” This underutilization, he argues, prevents investments in fan experiences, infrastructure upgrades, and year-round engagement, leaving venues as ghost towns and forcing reliance on media rights subsidies to stay afloat. In essence, Keselowski views this as a symptom of NASCAR’s broader commercialization woes: tracks prioritizing short-term profits over sustainable growth, which in turn makes the sport less appealing to casual viewers and erodes its cultural footprint.

The timing of Keselowski’s comments couldn’t be more charged. With the 2025 playoffs now advancing to the Round of 12, starting this weekend at Kansas Speedway, the format is under intense scrutiny following a season marked by parity in the Next Gen car era. Drivers like Chase Elliott have echoed similar sentiments earlier in the year, advocating for a full-season points championship that better recognizes consistent excellence. Keselowski himself amplified Elliott’s views on X (formerly Twitter) in July, noting how the playoff’s small sample size obscures the skill required in the current car design. Yet, Keselowski’s latest outburst goes further, tying track economics directly to the playoff’s flaws. He suggested that without diversified revenue, tracks can’t compete effectively during the fall, when NASCAR’s postseason clashes head-on with the NFL’s prime time, diluting viewership and sponsorship dollars.

This isn’t the first time Keselowski has voiced concerns about the playoffs. Back in November 2024, after Joey Logano’s controversial title win, he described the system as “hard to understand” and pushed for more emphasis on race wins. But his September 16 interview marks a escalation, framing the elimination format as not just confusing but actively harmful. As a team owner, Keselowski’s perspective carries extra weight; RFK Racing, which he co-owns with Jack Roush and Jordan Fish, has invested heavily in the sport amid antitrust lawsuits from teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. His call for change aligns with a growing chorus: veterans like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin have long criticized the system for lacking legitimacy, while fans decry how a driver could dominate the regular season yet miss the title due to one bad playoff race.

The social media backlash—or support, depending on the side—has been explosive. On X, Keselowski’s interview quotes went viral within hours, amassing thousands of likes and reposts. Accounts like @dailydownforce shared snippets, garnering over 500 likes and sparking threads with hundreds of replies. Fans like @lmm2996 lamented the format’s “game show” feel, tweeting, “We the fans want legitimacy… but you got some in the industry that are completely fine with it.” Driver Jeb Burton echoed the discontent in August, stating outright, “I’m not a fan of this playoff format.” Meanwhile, NASCAR loyalists defended the drama it brings, arguing it boosts TV ratings—though data shows viewership has plateaued since the Next Gen car’s 2022 debut. Hashtags like #AbolishThePlayoffs trended briefly on September 17, with memes mocking elimination rounds and calls for a return to pre-2004 points racing flooding timelines. Even international fans, via @NASCARFansUK, amplified Keselowski’s words, quoting his demeaning critique of non-playoff tracks.

Keselowski didn’t stop at the playoffs in his Athletic interview; he outlined a three-pronged plan to revitalize NASCAR. Beyond ditching the postseason and urging tracks to innovate revenue—perhaps through concerts, corporate events, or off-season activations—he advocated for attracting new Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) beyond Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota. “A high tide that raises all ships,” he quipped, suggesting that fresh automaker involvement could inject capital and excitement. This holistic vision underscores his worry that unchecked commercialization is killing the sport’s soul: tracks chasing quick bucks, playoffs manufacturing stars, and a lack of innovation stifling growth.

As NASCAR heads into a critical charter negotiation period and faces potential format tweaks discussed at a league meeting this week, Keselowski’s demands have forced uncomfortable conversations. Will the sanctioning body listen to a champion-turned-owner who’s seen the sport evolve from its boom years? Or will tradition—and TV deals—prevail? One thing’s clear: in an era where NASCAR’s popularity lags behind its 1990s peak, ignoring voices like Keselowski’s risks further alienation. The social media storm shows fans are listening, and they’re divided but vocal. For the sport’s sake, the explosion might just be the spark needed for real change.