I think there is plenty to like about current NASCAR.

The cars look great; we regularly see close, competitive racing with frequent position changes (lead change records have been broken left and right this year), there is far more parity in the field where the smaller teams have a better chance of winning than ever, and I actually like the diverse schedule that has a great mix of ovals and road courses (helps that my first love is sports car/open wheel racing on that last note).

Then situations like what you just described happen that make me scratch my head.

NASCAR has always been a product whose quality for me is defined by the on track action and driver skill alone. I don't think it needs any artificial gimmicks like a playoff system, "overtime", or stages to be exciting. Attempts to create fake drama like that can sometimes overshadow the good points in the public eye.

I don't think the rather manufactured the drama the current rules bring really helps the sport. It frustrates long time fans, doesn't seem to bring new ones in, and seems unpopular among everyone within the industry except for the higher ups that I believe are motivated solely by short term gains.

I think controversies like the one you describe may be a reason why we're seeing sponsors often leave the sport and why even the biggest teams have to struggle to make deals with like 5 companies to fund a full season. Why would I, as an executive, want my brand to be associated with a league that's so often shrouded in controversy purely because of its management's incompetence and unwillingness to listen to feedback?

It's like the polar opposite of F1, which is seeing far more marketing activation and investment than ever. That sport's management isn't perfect, either, but it must be doing something right if it's seeing all this success without needing things like playoffs or "overtime".

In spite of all that, I still watch NASCAR because when it's good, I think it's really good. I just ignore things like the championship or who's making the playoffs; it allows me to appreciate the on track action better. Unfortunately, the management's mistakes can be very glaring, too. Peoples' frustrations with their approach seem to have reached a boiling point (even from industry veterans and drivers), and I admit that at the top, it's time to see what some new talent can bring to the table.

TLDR; I think that current NASCAR is very good, but I think it's time NASCAR abandons all the counterproductive gimmicks they think makes it exciting and lets the already good on track action speak for itself. Perhaps it's also time we see some new talent take up the management and officiating positions for the long term health of the sport.

I think there is plenty to like about current NASCAR.

The cars look great; we regularly see close, competitive racing with frequent position changes (lead change records have been broken left and right this year), there is far more parity in the field where the smaller teams have a better chance of winning than ever, and I actually like the diverse schedule that has a great mix of ovals and road courses (helps that my first love is sports car/open wheel racing on that last note).

Then situations like what you just described happen that make me scratch my head.

NASCAR has always been a product whose quality for me is defined by the on track action and driver skill alone. I don't think it needs any artificial gimmicks like a playoff system, "overtime", or stages to be exciting. Attempts to create fake drama like that can sometimes overshadow the good points in the public eye.

I don't think the rather manufactured the drama the current rules bring really helps the sport. It frustrates long time fans, doesn't seem to bring new ones in, and seems unpopular among everyone within the industry except for the higher ups that I believe are motivated solely by short term gains.

I think controversies like the one you describe may be a reason why we're seeing sponsors often leave the sport and why even the biggest teams have to struggle to make deals with like 5 companies to fund a full season. Why would I, as an executive, want my brand to be associated with a league that's so often shrouded in controversy purely because of it's management's unwillingness to listen to feedback and incompetence?

It's like the polar opposite of F1, which is seeing far more marketing activation and investment than ever. That sport's management isn't perfect, either, but it must be doing something right if it's seeing all this success without needing things like playoffs or "overtime".

In spite of all that, I still watch NASCAR because when it's good, I think it's really good. I just ignore things like the championship or who's making the playoffs; it allows me to appreciate the on track action better. Unfortunately, the management's mistakes can be very glaring, too. Peoples' frustrations with their approach seem to have reached a boiling point (even from industry veterans and drivers), and I admit that at the top, it's time to see what some new talent can bring to the table.

TLDR; I think that current NASCAR is very good, but I think it's time NASCAR abandons all the counterproductive gimmicks they think makes it exciting and lets the already good on track action speak for itself. Perhaps it's also time we see some new talent take up the management and officiating positions for the long term health of the sport.