Despite winning his NASCAR Cup Championship in the Elimination Playoff Format, Ryan Blaney recently stated that respect between drivers had eroded under that system. He felt so because it had turned out into a melee where everyone was trying to do everything in their power to secure a postseason berth.
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Blaney hoped that the reintroduction of the Chase format would demand consistency through the season, which would reinstate respect among drivers on track. His successor at Wood Brothers Racing, Josh Berry, completely agrees with Blaney.
During the press conference held after the Cup Series test session at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Tuesday, Berry addressed questions about the changes he noticed during the test, along with his take on the Chase format.
Berry shared his perspective on the changes he is likely to see week-to-week during the season, as well as the risks drivers will likely take to gather points under the Chase system. Berry referenced Blaney’s comments while offering his own assessment. “I saw Blaney make that point, and ultimately I agree with him,” he began.
“I think we’ve seen times when some moves have gotten made, and it’s always, ‘I’ve got to win.’ I think that will change the dynamic a little bit. Wins still mean a lot. Winning in this series is a big deal. But it’ll be interesting to see if that changes a lot of people’s perceptions of how they race, especially when you look at superspeedway races and things like that,” added Berry.
There is always a difference in the approach of drivers who need to win outright compared to drivers who enter risky tracks like Superspeedways, including Daytona or Talladega, aiming for a top five and a solid haul of points. Berry feels that under the new system, we will find both types of drivers flourishing since the revised format aims to value both consistency and victories. This will impact how drivers approach the schedule.
Although it cannot be accurately predicted how those elements will play out on track, the underlying structure dictates that drivers will limit their bad days if they want a chance to advance into the 10-race long playoffs. In the new system, finishing races will matter more, and putting together a clean result will take on increased importance.
The changes could also influence how the leading cars handle risky scenarios at the front of the field. Rather than attempting moves that could jeopardize their afternoon, there may be instances when maintaining position and securing points might become the preferred outcome.
