What If NASCAR Had the Playoffs In 2003?

[@fishproductions22]

what if NASCAR had the playoffs in 1949? *coming in 2023*

[@evannuh-koo-la4054]

There were only eight races in 1949

[@megabutters9144]

Bruh, I just made a similar comment to you 🤣

[@THEDonnyB]

Top 4 in points go into the season finale with winner take all?

[@randomreviewsrebooted5156]

Fish Productions I actually tried doing this with the math, but I gave up.

[@GatoradeCupSeriesX94]

insert 40 car pileup here

[@DoritosandMtnDew]

"This is just a hypothetical" I missed that.

[@megabutters9144]

"I know they would've raced differently--"

[@JackLikesTrackhouse]

“This is just for fun”

[@DennyDeliversYT]

Eric Estepp has left the chat

[@racerkid9320]

DennyDelivers that should be a meme

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Michael Mrucz and BlueJimmie48Fan have entered the chat

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

I mean Kenseth would have won in 2007

[@NASCARFAN93100]

@@bw-leftturnracing7779 Fans especially Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson fans would have a fit

[@dshih199]

@@NASCARFAN93100 trust me even in 2007 us JG fans already had a fit lol I swear we had that thing locked up after Charlotte lolol

[@ericstrauch5184]

2003: Jimmie Johnson 2004: Jimmie Johnson 2005: Greg Biffle 2006: Kevin Harvick 2007: Matt Kenseth 2008: Carl Edwards 2009: Kurt Busch 2010: Jimmie Johnson 2011: Tony Stewart 2012: Clint Bowyer 2013: Matt Kenseth 2014: Kevin Harvick 2015: Kyle Busch 2016: Jimmie Johnson

[@danielwest9955]

Well, for those saying Jimmie wouldn't be dominant with the hpothetical playoffs... I've got some bad news.

[@kevincorbat7084]

even in a parallel universe, mark martin still gets shafted from a championship :(

[@doomusrlc]

@@danielwest9955 seriously, in this way, JJ was final 4 in all but maybe 2 lol

[@CountryCarReviews]

Kevin Corbat if the playoffs were in 1990 he might have.

[@gamersoutlet4286]

Isaac Barton I don’t wanna burst the bubble, but Owly has been posting this every video, not that it matters, just setting it straight :)

[@RedRiley89]

Just wait until the 60’s when it comes between David Pearson and Richard Petty for most number of wins in each round

[@Boamonster1]

RedRiley89 especially 1967 lol!

[@MenardBrosVids]

Nascar races werent aired till 1970

[@LucyFaygo32]

@@MenardBrosVids that is a complete lie.

[@MenardBrosVids]

@@LucyFaygo32 look it up

[@burlingtonfan7492]

Actually, first broadcasted race was the 1960 Daytona 500. Tho, the whole thing wasn’t broadcasted, like most races until like the 80’s

[@thetechfromheaven]

OH AND THAT DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF NEWMAN´s CAR

[@gz_splash]

A year with Joe Nemecheck and Robby Gordon both in the playoffs.

[@whatincarnation95]

even in hypothetical situations, us gordon fans are tortured by he playoffs

[@JackLikesTrackhouse]

It’s sad yet hilarious at the same time

[@acenace24]

What In Carnation? True that

[@mofoprada]

Wait until 1996... Gordon fans may get one back there, since he did score the most points in the final 10 races. We’ll have to see how Terry Labonte did in those final 10 races.

[@danielwest9955]

@@mofoprada Didn't Jeff win the last race of the season that year? Or was that '98 I'm thinking about.

[@11d7jake]

@@danielwest9955 it was 98. Bobby Labonte won 96 and the brothers took a side by side victory lap.

[@JackLikesTrackhouse]

Even though most people hate the Playoffs, I actually find it pretty cool going back and looking back at all these potential outcomes!

[@adamrtr2774]

*CHASE

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

@@adamrtr2774 the 2014-present version is playoffs. 2004-2013 is the chase.

[@adamrtr2774]

@@bw-leftturnracing7779 just because nascar changed how the fake champion is crowned het again doesn't mean i can't still call it the CHASE

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

@@adamrtr2774 I still call it the chase too, but it's factually called the playoffs now.

[@whoasked9500]

I still hate the playoffs, but this series is actually pretty interesting.

[@ThatDudeNamedDale]

I gotta point out here, major shout to Terry Labonte for his season in 2003. Terry had fallen off the map in the previous years at Hendrick. After his title run in 96, he fell to 6th in 97, 9th in 98, 12th in 99 (also had his most recent win at Texas until this season) got injured at Daytona in 2000 and lost his ironman streak and never really was the same after that. His next 3 seasons (2000, 2001 and 2002) he finished 17th, 23rd and 24th . BUT if you notice, Terry not only returned to victory lane this season but he ALSO finished 10th in the final Cup points standings. It was quite the "feel good story" to me to see him win again and land his first Top 10 points finish since 1998. Think about this. In this playoff format, Terry Labonte advanced over Kenseth who was the 2003 champ as we all know. If that was the actual case in 2003, THAT would have been almost infathomable. Awesome video as always! BFM... GOOD SEASONS TERRY LABONTE 2003! Make it happen!!!

[@ethanroy4978]

Jimmie Johnson is still right now the only driver to make the final 4. I will guarantee that he is not gonna make it in 2002 to though

[@killertaco9703]

another season where michael waltrip wins all 36. i knew he would.

[@AlanNadeauIII]

Damn, 8 wins for Ryan Newman. That's freaking awesome.

[@Jake_Owens]

Kinda heartbreak to see the amount of times Dale Jr has made the Championship 4 in these scenarios and not able to come away with one title 😢 💔

[@whoasked9500]

At least your driver would make the final 4, my driver (Kasey Kahne) never would. Breaks my heart personally.

[@calebharper1590]

Dale Jarrett and Dale Jr. both had one win in their bad seasons and they both still made the playoffs. That's interesting.

[@gooseflatwaterfowlers]

When’s the last time there’s been 16 different winners talk about parody in the sport. At this time the sport was at an all time high

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

I think 2011 had 18 winners

[@JackLikesTrackhouse]

19. 2001 had 19 as well

[@gooseflatwaterfowlers]

In my opinion the 2000 season was one of the best of all time. The racing up until around 2006 was great after that it’s changed with the cars and rules packages. I recently watched the 2001 Pepsi 400 the look and sound of those cars and the racing was great.

[@whoasked9500]

@@gooseflatwaterfowlers If you ask me, the racing was great until 2008. 2008 was horrible.

[@Troublemullis]

I love this series

[@eaglesmmiv6386]

Are you sure you know they would’ve raced differently, and is it actually just a hypothetical scenario and just for fun?

[@danielwest9955]

He does. It's the fools out here blaming NASCAR for implementing a knockout playoff format in 2003 that he's doing it for.

[@rowdysmoke1466]

I love this series, thank you for making these!

[@chrisuncleahmad789]

A potential future video topic I'd love to see you tackle: Best Fuel Gamble/Mileage finishes

[@pedrooliveiraoliveirasimoe5478]

That one will pass through but Greg Biffle in 2015 finishing 4th after being 8 laps short of fuel in New Hampshire. It was the race that Harvick dominated but had to pit with 3 to go and Kenseth won.

[@JungleJim737]

For sure that’d be real entertaining

[@phillips5368]

Correct answer for all time fuel mileage win is Alexander Rossi

[@masoneveridge4078]

P S actually it would be the luckiest driver in nascar history

[@pedrooliveiraoliveirasimoe5478]

@@masoneveridge4078 fuel mileage isnt pure luck. It takes a lot of skill to save fuel and be fast at the same time.

[@ashsherod6321]

I'm curious how you're going to handle the postponements of 1998 (Daytona night race) and 2001 (New Hampshire fall race)

[@jamesgentry13]

They are going to move some races after Phoenix when we get back to racing this year

[@masoneveridge4078]

Of course the 9/11 event that ruined the end of a legendary final event which is shocking

[@reidcraig3739]

Well the New Hampshire race was already going to be a part of the playoffs even if they had it back then.

[@GGRTL1]

Oh man it definitely shifted everything around. That race in Homestead Miami, Ryan Newman would've thrown hands. Just bad luck. Awesome job on this I can't wait for the next one

[@FUELBandicoot]

Imagine if Bobby Labonte could’ve gotten into that Final 4

[@stultsn]

This was an awesome breakdown please do More seasons! Very very interesting and great work!

[@acenace24]

Doing each season going backwards will be interesting.

[@jj9487]

I was thinking about doing that myself. Basically the last race would become the first race, and the first 10 races in real life would be become the playoff or chase races. I think a lot would change

[@mrdiamond365_]

Can you do the winston cup points from 2004-2019 please?

[@BaronOBeefDip]

He has

[@null7265]

Yes!! I have been anxiously awaiting the return of the series! I rewatched the 2002 season recently and am interested how it would have played out. 2001 will be wild since I am sure Gordon makes it to the finals at NH but was penalized by NASCAR and I can't see a way he would have won it all.

[@joejennings5470]

I’m excited to see how many different seasons we would have and if Mark Martin would have that elusive Championship win and how many Dale Earnhardt would have gotten under this strategy.

[@evannuh-koo-la4054]

People only ask for more because they just want 0:27

[@kylerhine7186]

No Mark, no Rusty, no Bill, no Ricky, no Jeff Burton, no one from Ganassi/Evernham....that was a crazy year when you eliminate Matt Kenneth's consistency

[@charliel3248]

Finally!

[@iankhan4614]

I miss the Winston Cup points race and the sprint cup format, not the playoffs.

[@stw3art14]

Terry Labonte's win at Darlington means so much to me, just because it was the exact day I was born. Really wish a NASCAR race would be on my birthday once again

[@jabber1990]

they run on your birthday every 7-8 years

[@11d7jake]

If you only include cup, Jimmie and Kahne have won since. If you include xfinity and trucks Ty dillon, Harvick, Ryan Blaney and Cole Custer.

[@cito1101]

The Series continues on!!! Let's go!!! I frickin love this!!!! Edit: if only this played out in real life, just so JIMMAY could have 8 Championships

[@gordonfan200]

Cito Browne he would be a 4 time champion if every season was like this.

[@FastFoxx82]

I thought Jr had it after Phoenix...sort of how you announced he won I was like"hell yeah" just like when he wins a race Damn Jimmy Johnson 😂

[@fatcheezeburgeroldchannel6755]

This Series is by far my favorite. It’s really cool to see that despite his eight wins, Ryan Newman still wouldn’t be champion under this format

[@81casperflip]

The best part of this video is Rockingham in the playoffs!

[@andrewvasquezz]

Wish we could go back to the normal format.

[@paulcerrezin2498]

When a driver wins only one race under the playoffs or chase its horrible. when it happens under the old system its perfect.

[@chrisfontaine47]

Matt Kenseth was NASCAR’s literal punching bag! Every time he did good nascar seemed to change everything! 2003, 2013, this is just unfortunate.

[@danielwest9955]

2014's change was a reaction to "Spingate". Making qualification based on wins took away the need to finagle the points picture to get in, unless you were at the very bottom.

[@danielwest9955]

*Sees thumbnail* "Ah! This should be interesting.* *Sees Joe Nemechek, Robby Gordon, Ricky Craven, and rookie Greg Biffle as playoff contenders* "Oh, we're in for a treat now. This is gonna be absolutely wild."

[@liambuchanan6342]

I predicted Jimmie Johnson for 2003 and I was right

[@jamesgentry13]

Jimmie wouldn't have many championships if the chase or playoffs didn't exist

[@whoasked9500]

@@jamesgentry13 He would have 3 titles under the 2003 points format.

[@liambuchanan6342]

Jeff Gordon would have been a seven time champion instead of Johnson under the Winston format

[@jamesgentry13]

The chase / playoffs is a joke. They over reacted to Kenseth winning his championship. In reality from 72-2003 you RARELY had someone clinching early. And then you dont have exciting years like 92 or 02 with multiple drivers having s chance. 84 saw 2 underdog drivers in the fight because the top teams were not consistent. Also what I miss about late in the year you used to have a lot of first time or surprising pole sitters and winners late in the season. Because the guys that were out of it were trying new exotic set ups. Also it used to be you see someone that's out of the championship try new things and perform well late in the year be contenders the next year.

[@CountryCarReviews]

Bill Elliot 1985 and 1992 under the playoffs

[@phillips5368]

As a Bobby Labonte fan, damn it

[@DennyDeliversYT]

*Hypothetical* videos are back!!

[@mootsym]

In conclusion- the new points chase grid nonsense is ..nonsense, and Kenseth deserved that championship.

[@andy2mbs]

This...all day.

[@burlingtonfan7492]

I’m gonna just leave this here: *What if NASCAR had the 1949-1965 points system in 2002?*

[@themaddekuboi430]

Just Imagine If Terry Labonte Won The Championship In 2003 XD

[@fogalicious2644]

Just remember Dale Jarrett who won a race and had a crap year would be a playoff driver. I know it's not flashy, but i miss the old system DEARLY.

[@stay.frosty.11]

Kind of ironic that both labonte brothers got they’re re final wins in 2003

[@jets_mets]

This turned out WAY better than real life!

[@badbooking3221]

There was a real missed opportunity by saying how much of a factor Jarrett's crash at New Hampshire could have been: LUCKY DOG RULE. Newman would not have won Dover without it.

[@Bload72productions]

I never knew Newman won that many races in 2003.

[@danielwest9955]

He was part of the argument for the original chase. He had his inconsistencies, but having the dude with 8 wins finish 6th while the champion won just the third race of the season definitely rung some alarm bells.

[@TheDthatcher]

I love this series!

[@davidbuell7051]

Great video! Looking foward to some late 90s-2002 years!

[@iibrettmoffit12]

YAY ITS BACK AFTER MONTHS

[@BoogityBogityBoogity]

My god the playoff system is beyond stupid

[@clarkmckee4700]

Do what if NASCAR had the Playoffs in 1995-2002

[@wcs2028]

What a final 4

[@liambuchanan6342]

My prediction for 2002: Kurt Busch

[@masoneveridge4078]

I’m just waiting to see if in this universe Michael would be a champion

[@keithholmes8709]

Why are there not more likes. Bro even accounted for stage points. C'mon guys.

[@the_elmeister]

8:58 - “And Jimmie Johnson is the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion”

[@clarkmckee4700]

Please do if NASCAR had the playoffs in 1999

[@CountryCarReviews]

Clark McKee dale earnhardt and bobby labonte down to the line

[@kittykatecho]

Would you be willing to do old Xfinity/Truck seasons? Would be interested in how the format would work considering how many cup drivers jump down

[@danielwest9955]

Probably would be easiest to just acknowledge the "Bushwhackers" until NASCAR actually made the one-series rule in '11.

[@tylerlefever9831]

Will you go back and do a similar series who all the champions would have been if the winston cup points would have never ended?

[@jabber1990]

I have no idea how you can do this before 2001, since that's when we started running 36 races but I guess i'll have to wait and see

[@jamesgentry13]

You really need to do Rusty Wallace 93 and 94 missing rings. Combined 18 wins those 2 years 2nd and 3rd in points

[@stormsmith6772]

Imagine if Johnson actually won the championship in 2003. That would have gave him 8 championships. 2003,2006-2010,2013,2016.

[@jessemullen9083]

One of my favorite seasons

[@willmoon5320]

You should do this but for the truck series and xfinity series in 2014-15

[@sailwithmeintothedark420he9]

Man whens my boy Jeff Gordon gonna get a hypothetical championship

[@emmettm7482]

If I’m not mistaken, I thought that the top 15 winners and then the highest non-winning driver in points made playoffs. Could be mistaken, but I thought that was the rule

[@jasonmiller8207]

2003 was a pretty awesome year with all the different winners

[@iwalas]

Rewatching this after Harvick’s upset elimination. Instead of stage points which would be dramatically different in 2003 due to harder racing and pit strategy, might be worth a “hybrid” Chase points recalibration. Let’s say 5 for the win, plus season bonus pints for top 10 regular season results stay. Give 1 bonus playoff point to each driver based on most laps led. That theoretically covers what would maybe be picked up in a stage win. You would still have to scrap the regular season bonus points for stages. I.,e,. if Stewart dominated and won, give him his full place points (40) plus 6 playoff pours for the win and leading most. If Michael Waltrip gets a last-second W at Daytona, that’s only worth 5 while maybe Jr. gets the 1 bonus point for leading most. I feel like that would up the accuracy a little, even if Jimmy’s hypothetical title is ultimately unaffected.

[@JoshS05]

What is ARCA had the playoffs in 1984

[@aaronkristofer18]

Terry Labonte being in the Round of 8 is so cooked lol

[@joekaput747]

"NASCAR Winston Cup Playoff Champion" So much of that sentence doesn't belong together and it hurts

[@denimpantz]

So I have an idea and want your guy’s opinion on it. So I was thinking of type of points that would have a very unique but legitimate way of crowning a champion. It will NOT be a type of chase or playoff system. It’s a simple, the guy with the most points wins, system. The system will have 1 stage at the mid way point of the race. The drivers in the top 5 will be awarded points with 1st only getting 5 points and 5th getting 1 point. And the stage will not end with a yellow too. At the end of the race, points will be awarded from 30 points being the highest, to 1 point being the lowest. Meaning the guy who won the race will get 30 points and the guy in 30th will get 1 point. That also means anyone who finishes worse than 30th will not be awarded points. And just to add to the uniqueness of this system, the person who leads the most laps will get 1 bonus point. That means the maximum amount of points one person can earn in a race would be 36 points and, like I said before, the driver with the most points by the end of the season, will be champion. What do you guys think? Yes? No? Maybe so? Please let me know? Ha, that rhymed

[@bigdc48]

I would love to see what 1992 would have been.

[@rlakhani4109]

Indeed

[@joshuapulley4987]

Three years In a row, in the final four for dale jr

[@Spitfire-kt3to]

As a JJ fan i woulda loved to see it

[@nascar4842]

Cool. Jimmie Johnson is just forever a legend. I know for a fact though that if it was back then everyone would have thought it made sense. Back then people hated Kenseth for the championship with the lone win and being invincible for most of 2003. So NASCAR created the chase.

[@nascar4842]

@@stevenjohnson9941 He still has 7 championships though. It's like Perty in 1974 in arguably the worst format ever. He's still a champion right? Nobody criticized that year.

[@nascar4842]

@@stevenjohnson9941 Yes he has. He ran all the races in his career when he has won championships unlike Petty and many legends back in the day. Look it up if you wish.

[@nascar4842]

@@stevenjohnson9941 Well no matter what now and forever all these drivers from 2004 onward will forever be real champions like the guys from 2003 backwards

[@nascar4842]

@@stevenjohnson9941 Yes they do. All of them are champions

[@LeftyGretzky]

I was playing NASCAR Thunder 2004 when the notification rang. Coincidence????

[@GodzillaGaming111]

Could you do the 1967 season? The one Richard Petty dominated?

[@BCconnersdominion]

Why dont you make a series about Winston cup points in 2004 onword?

[@TheIceberg]

I already made a video a few years ago on that topic.

[@crouchb15]

@@TheIceberg link

[@whoasked9500]

@@TheIceberg I can't wait for your 1992 video, that one will be nuts (unless you can't go back that far).

[@BCconnersdominion]

@@TheIceberg which video? Link?

[@brandonsettle8089]

See right here, this hypothetically shows how broken the system is, Newman would have been champion had it been based off of wins alone

[@HemiSlant6828]

Chase defenders would cite Matt Kenseth's only win this season as a good reason not to win the championship. Winston Cup defenders will cite Matt Kenseth's only win this season as a good reason to win the championship I say that Alan Kulwicki possessed Matt Kenseth this season, and that Alan Kulwicki was actually the 2003 champion.

[@Dylan2000YT]

Are you doing 2000, 2001, 2002?

[@chrisfrank7365]

I hate how Johnson always benefits from a playoff format smh

[@whoasked9500]

Dude, he would only have 4 titles under this playoff format, compared to the 7 he has in real life.

[@iracingfan9304]

What if NASCAR had the 2004 chase format in 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018, and 2019

[@notiresjustgas9377]

Here before carnation

[@megabutters9144]

What if NASCAR had the playoffs in 1948?

[@matthewlumsden3723]

How far back years wise are we talking about?

[@thekeynotex]

kenseth wouldn't win the championship, *kinda glad this wasn't implented being a kenseth fan*

[@danielwest9955]

You have '07 in the hypothetical universe.

[@thekeynotex]

@Elite Soulfly if it was always, it would have only been 2. '13 and and 07. again, best case scernario for kenseth fans its implemented in 04

[@nascartoday8849]

so that means jahnsen goes back to back due to 2004

[@dualthreatoutdoors]

After you run out of footage, how about a “what if nascar didn’t have the playoffs from 2004 on”🤔

[@Flamingbro69]

What if IndyCar had the Playoffs

[@William77_]

Do 2017-2019 with 2003 format

[@whoasked9500]

Easy, Truex Jr. and then Kyle Busch twice.

[@danielwest9955]

@@whoasked9500 *Suddenly, the playoff system has gained in popularity*

[@whoasked9500]

@@danielwest9955 Unfortunately, at least in my opinion.

[@danielwest9955]

@@whoasked9500 Yep! Showing a bunch hypothetical full-season titles that Busch would've won is the easiest way to have 90% of the fanbase get on board with the playoffs. Folks are still celebrating The Big 3 going down two seasons ago.

[@whoasked9500]

@@danielwest9955 I'm not celebrating that last one.

[@TheJeffBala]

Me: I hate the playoffs This dude: 2003 playoffs would have been Dale jr, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Jeff Gordon. Me: Ok maybe I am warming up to this to have always been a thing. This dude: Jimmie Johnson would have won. Me: NOPE! PS: I am a Gordon and Jr fan, I should not exist 😄

[@TheIceberg]

I laughed way too much at this comment lol.

[@Astrozac44]

You change the rules, you change the approach, you change the outcome... People woulda punted Ryan Newman with those track position/fuel mileage wins in 2003, if playoff spots were on the line...

[@danielwest9955]

'03 was a weird year. Most of the season was such a wash that people probably drove more aggressively than normal knowing points meant literally nothing with Kenseth blowing the field away.

[@Astrozac44]

@@danielwest9955 Playing with my words, even changing rules and outcomes, Jimmie woulda had them locked down worse in 2004 with no Chase format. A 300 point lead in summer, without Chase they don't,start screwing around.

[@danielwest9955]

@@Astrozac44 That's fair. I guess I just meant people were more likely to take risks since they were only going for wins. Because the championship was such an afterthought.