Why Short Tracks Dropping Playoffs Put NASCAR on the Clock

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CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 24: Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, and Jeb Burton, driver of the #27 Timber Creek/Dive Bomb Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to a full-season points system in 2026. The series confirmed the change after being acquired by FloSports. Instead of a playoff format, the championship will again be decided by total points earned across the entire season. Series officials described the move as a return to a system many drivers consider the fairest.

The decision has drawn attention because many racing series have copied NASCAR’s playoff model over the last two decades.

Veteran racer Kenny Wallace says this move matters because it shows short-track racing is no longer following NASCAR’s lead. Instead, he says, grassroots racing is choosing stability and consistency at a time when NASCAR faces pressure to defend its own system.

Kenny Wallace Points to a Shift in Racing’s Power Structure

Kenny Wallace discussed the change on his “Coffee with Kenny” show. He said the move stood out because it came before any similar action from NASCAR. “This is the first time I’ve seen it be the opposite,” Wallace said. “This is the first time where I’ve seen a short track series say, ‘Nope, we’re making the move before NASCAR does. We’re going back to normal format next year.”

Wallace added that the shift reflects a larger change in the sport. “That’s how far NASCAR has fallen, he said.” “That’s how wounded NASCAR is.”

The series has not cited NASCAR directly as a reason for the change. Officials have said the goal is to reward consistent performance across the season.

NASCAR’s Playoff Format Under Pressure

NASCAR introduced its playoff system in 2004. The format has gone through several revisions, including elimination rounds and stage racing. The goal was to create more drama late in the season and keep more drivers in title contention.

The system has also drawn criticism over the years. Critics say it places too much weight on late races and can allow a champion to be decided by a single incident. The discussion has intensified following NASCAR’s recent antitrust settlement.

Calls for Change Grow Louder

Wallace said the combination of the settlement and the LOLMDS decision has increased pressure on NASCAR to act. “NASCAR cannot go back to normal points quick enough,” he said.

Wallace also pointed to Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who has long supported a season-long points system. After the LOLMDS announcement, Martin reacted simply with, “Great news.”

Wallace echoed that view. “The hell with it. Just go all 36 races,” he said. “Give Mark Martin what he’s been asking for. Mark’s been right so far.”

Martin has previously said most fans prefer a championship decided by results over the full season rather than a playoff reset.

For Wallace, the timing matters. He said the settlement gives NASCAR a chance to reset. “Now they got this opportunity to come together and do all the right things,” he said.

With short-track racing moving back to traditional points, NASCAR faces renewed focus on its own format. The decision from LOLMDS shows that not every series believes that playoffs are the future. Whether NASCAR follows that path remains unanswered, but the timeline for change is now under close watch.

Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce