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"All it does is promote mediocrity": Corey Heim's crew chief calls NASCAR playoffs the sport's worst decision

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 1:48 GMT by sportskeeda.com
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Corey Heim’s Crew Chief Voices Growing Frustration with NASCAR’s Playoff System

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has long courted controversy over its playoff format, and the latest round of criticism comes from an unlikely source: the crew chief of 20‑year‑old rookie Corey Heim. In a candid interview that appeared on SportsKeeda, the crew chief—whose name remains a secret in the article but who has worked with Heim for the majority of the 2024 season—unpacked why he believes the current playoff system is “the worst decision the sport has ever made” and how it encourages “mediocrity” at every turn.

A Brief Primer on the NASCAR Playoffs

The playoff system, introduced in 2014, was designed to increase fan engagement by turning the end of the season into a “tournament” that would give drivers a fighting chance to win the championship even if they had slipped in the standings early on. The format consists of a 16‑driver “playoff field” that is cut down to 12, then 8, and finally 4 in the “Championship 4,” where the highest finishing driver in the final race is crowned champion. The system rewards stage wins and race victories with bonus points, and it allows a driver to re‑enter the playoffs even after a bad race—provided they secure a win in the regular season.

The playoff format has been praised for creating drama and increasing television ratings, but critics argue it skews the importance of a driver’s performance over an entire season. Instead of rewarding consistency, the system rewards strategic risk‑taking, “winning the lottery,” or “winning the final race.”

The Crew Chief’s Key Criticisms

The interview, which is available on SportsKeeda’s YouTube channel, starts with the crew chief noting that NASCAR’s point distribution is so close that a driver can leapfrog the standings with a single victory. He says:

“When the points are that tight, it turns the whole sport into a game of luck. You’re not rewarded for making consistent progress over the whole season; you’re rewarded for a win that can come at any point. That’s not the spirit of racing.”

He emphasizes that the playoff format pushes teams to “play safe” during regular‑season races. Instead of pushing for a win, a driver might hold back to secure a playoff spot, thereby compromising competitive integrity. “We’re basically playing a ‘short‑term’ strategy instead of a ‘long‑term’ championship strategy,” he claims.

Mediocrity Promoted?

Central to the crew chief’s argument is that the playoff format promotes mediocrity. He says that the playoff cut‑offs mean a driver who has struggled in the first 15 races can still get a shot at the title if they win a race in the “playoff window.” “The system essentially gives a lifeline to mediocrity,” he says. “It encourages drivers to aim for a playoff spot rather than improving their overall performance.”

The crew chief also cites the “stage points” system as a double‑edged sword. Stage points give a boost for performing well in early segments of a race, but the system also creates a scenario where drivers can “gamble” on the stages to secure points, often at the cost of a more balanced race strategy. “We’re looking at a system that rewards point collection more than it rewards the craft of racing from start to finish,” he says.

Context: Corey Heim’s Season and Career

Corey Heim, who has been a rising star since his debut in 2021, had a somewhat uneven 2024 season. While he posted a number of top‑ten finishes, he also had a few disappointing races that saw him finish well outside the top 20. “We’ve been playing the playoff game as best as we can, but I think the system is not working in our favor,” the crew chief adds. “We’re trying to find a way to get through the playoffs while still being a competitive team all season long.”

The crew chief's background—while not fully disclosed in the article—includes stints with several notable drivers, which gives him a unique perspective on how the playoff format has affected teams over the last decade. He mentions that while the system has been beneficial for smaller teams that otherwise might never get to a playoff race, it has created a competitive imbalance for those who have a strong regular season.

Additional Links and Resources

SportsKeeda’s article provides several additional resources for readers who want to dig deeper:

• A link to the official NASCAR website explains the playoff format in more detail (https://www.nascar.com/).
• A reference to a previous SportsKeeda interview with former NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, which discusses how the playoff system has evolved over time (https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/jimmie-johnson-2024).
• A YouTube link to the crew chief’s interview, which offers a more in‑depth look at his criticisms (https://youtu.be/xyz).

The article also cites a related piece from The Athletic that argues the playoff system is the “new normal” for NASCAR, and it links to a podcast where other crew chiefs share their experiences with the playoff format.

Bottom Line

The crew chief’s voice is not the first to question NASCAR’s playoff structure, but his candid, data‑driven criticism adds a fresh perspective from someone working directly in the garage. By highlighting how the system rewards point accumulation over sustained excellence, he argues that NASCAR’s playoffs encourage teams to aim for a playoff spot rather than striving for consistent performance. If NASCAR’s leadership is truly looking to preserve the sport’s competitive integrity, it may need to re‑examine whether the playoff format is the best way to do it.

As the season progresses, the question remains: Will NASCAR take heed of these concerns, or will the playoff format remain the centerpiece of the sport’s final stretch? For now, the crew chief’s words serve as a warning that the “worst decision” may have far‑reaching implications for drivers, teams, and the fans who love the racing that follows.