Why is NASCAR resistant to call the first 26 races the 'regular season' and the last 10 races the 'playoffs'?

Question

To me, it makes sense to call it the regular season and playoffs so the casual sports fan can better understand. Heck, for me...I like hockey but their regular season is too long to me. I usually only follow the last month of the regular season then the playoffs. I am sure NASCAR could pick up some fans for just the 'playoffs' at least.

Answer 1

Football is the only other sport that I really follow, so I don't know much about how the playoffs work in other sports.  The chase is similar to playoffs, in a way I guess, but the teams don't get eliminated completely, as they do in playoffs.

NASCAR is often criticized as not really being a sport.  Had the chase been called playoffs, those critics would've had a field day.  I can just imagine what they might say.  "How can they have playoffs? - it's not even a sport!" or "Look, NASCAR's trying to legitimize themselves as a sport, by copying the real sports!"  Better than NASCAR just does their own thing.

Answer 2

I think NASCAR should have a regular season champion and a playoff champion. I know there are some reasons not to call the last 10 races the playoffs, but I think it would be a better representation of what goes on. It isn't a typical playoff, but it isn't like the regular season either.  

Answer 3

cause this aint

football

baseball

basketball

or anything else that involves a ball  

Answer 4

the "casual sports fan" generally starts out with little knowledge of most sports they didn't grow up on, and generally learns the rules, begins to appreciate the sport more, then learns more about the sport, and the cycle continues. or they don't come to appreciate it and they leave it behind. for me, i knew little about nascar although i had seen some races and figured the first one to the checkered flag wins. but it wasn't until i learned more about the sport that i began to like it more, and as i liked it more i watched more, and as i watched more i learned more, lather, rinse, repeat.

now soccer, on the other hand, i've watched, i've learned enough to be dangerous but not knowledgeable, and i've decided i just don't like it that much. so how they go about deciding who is the champion at the end of the season is irrelevant to me. but i, like you, have my sports that i like and know well, and played through high school and beyond (baseball, basketball, football, track), but don't like enough to watch every game. i couldn't honestly tell you how many leagues, divisions, or conferences or whatever there are in the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, or in MLB, how many teams get in and how (overall records, division or conference leaders, wild cards, etc) or how many games they have to win to advance in each round of their post-seasons.

but i'll watch when they get down to the end of the season. all people need to know is when the last portion of the season begins and they'll decide when to watch, no matter whether it's called the playoffs, the post-season, or the chase. and calling it the playoffs would be even more confusing for most "casual sports fans" because there are so few similarities to what they know as a "playoff format." besides, most casual fans of nascar (or of the irl) generally watch the marquee event - the daytona 500 (or the indy 500) - and don't really care about the rest. those who find they like it enough to continue watching will pick up the lingo and the schedule along the way.

Answer 5

Because it's not a typical playoff format. Even if you don't make the playoffs you still race. NASCAR isn't a typical sport so it seperates it self from other sports. Who really cares that it's the chase. To the milions of NASCAR fans it doesn't matter.I really don't get you not liking the sport for it not calling the chase playoffs.

Well if you really are a fan and have been paying attention to the sport over the last few years you would know. I dont get why such a diehard fan would be asking this question. No offense.

Answer 6

Because if they did it I believe they are just following the way that the other sports do it.................