Column By: HOLLY CAIN / NASCAR – FORT WORTH, TX – Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, this season’s winningest NASCAR Cup Series driver, William Byron, was asked about the difference in winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship now versus when 48-year-old Jimmie Johnson was competing full-time, from 2002-2020, and racked up seven season titles.
The championship formats changed multiple times during Johnson’s tenure while the 26-year-old Byron has only known the elimination-style path used today.
“I think the playoff points are a good thing, but I don’t know any different,’’ said Byron, a three-race winner this season. “I think it’s just the format and the nature of it is very intense. .. very stressful.
“But I think that’s what you want in sports, really. .. to have something really challenges everyone. So, I feel like the way it is brings out those dramatic moments. If I were a fan, that’s what I would like to see. As a competitor, you do have to take it with a grain of salt, knowing that really, it’s about Phoenix. So you’ve just got to prepare that way, know that’s the case and try to bring your best stuff then.’’