“It’s exhausting”; “I get it”: Insiders split over NASCAR potentially adding Talladega to playoffs' semifinal in 2025

NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi had differing perspectives about Talladega Superspeedway's potential inclusion in the semifinal race group of the 2025 playoffs. While Gluck believed it could rob the title from a championship-contending driver, Bianchi pointed out NASCAR's viewership aspect of the move.

Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66-mile tri-oval track whose roots in NASCAR date back to the inaugural race in 1969, which was won by Richard Brickhouse. 51 years after the ground was broken in 1968, NASCAR acquired the racetrack in 2019, with Brian Crichton as the track's president.

Being a superspeedway with 33-degree banking on the turns, 16.5 on the tri-oval bend, and long straights, the drivers often find themselves in speed traps as they maneuver through the turns.

This has resulted in big crashes such as the thirteen-car pileup during the 1996 Winston Select 500, Carl Edwards' ride going airborne after contact with Brad Keselowski at the 2009 Aaron's 499, and Alex Bowman's misjudged move which collected 10 cars during the 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500.

Since NASCAR started the four-round knockout playoff system in 2014, Talladega has always found itself in the second round where the drivers battle for the Round of 8. However, the 2.66-mile track is rumored to be shifted to the third round, or the playoffs semifinal in 2025.

Gluck doesn’t seem pleased about the notion as it could take the "true best driver" out of the battle at the last moment.

"You put Talladega in round three? Inserting even more chaos, and more unpredictability, and more chance that the champion is not going to be the true best driver of the season. I don't know, it's exhausting... I just don't love it at all," Gluck said via Dirty Mo Media on X (0: 27).

Bianchi pointed out the viewership aspect of shifting Talladega to the Round of 8, as he replied:

"I don't necessarily agree with it but I get it from their [NASCAR] perspective of like, 'It's going to get eyeballs on our sport.'"

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A look into NASCAR's tentative 2025 playoff schedule and the change in venues

While the dates for the 2025 regular season are out, only a handful of tracks have been decided so far. As usual, the Daytona International Speedway will host the season-opener race on February 16.

The All-Star Race is slated for May 18, the Coca-Cola 600 for May 25, the Atlanta race on June 28, the Chicago Street Race on July 6, the Daytona Summer Race on August 24, and the Southern 500 on September 1.

But for the next season's playoffs, there's a change in the track's roster. Darlington Raceway, Gateway Motorsports Park, and New Hampshire will now host playoff races. The tracks will replace Watkins Glen International, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway, which will host the regular season races next season.