Skip to main content
Join
NASCAR Logo

Jeff Burton shoots down suggestion that NASCAR do away with playoff waiver system

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•06/05/24•

brianjones_93

Jeff Burton NASCAR
Feb 15, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) talks with former driver Jeff Burton along pit road during qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Burton believes the playoff waiver is a good thing for NASCAR, the drivers and the fans. The NBC NASCAR analyst spoke to NBC Sports NASCAR writer Dustin Long about the the playoff waiver being necessary.

“I would be completely against a situation in which a driver that’s racing the for a Cup Championship wasn’t required to run every race unless there was an extraordinary circumstance,” Burton said. “If you’re going to run cup, you need to run cup. If you want to run IndyCar, go run IndyCar. There’s nothing wrong with any of it.

“I am not a fan of having a system that a driver say, ‘Okay, I know I’m in the playoffs, so now I’m going to run a particular race that I want to run or I’m gonna go to the beach. I’m just going to take the weekend off.’ Our fans deserve better than that. Our fans deserve to know that their driver that they’re paying tickets for are going to be at that race.”

Burton went on to say why he loves the waiver. “I’m telling you I don’t have enough fingers to count the number of times I was injured and should not have been in a race car,” Burton explained. It was dangerous, but I did because I had to do it. …I don’t think that’s right either that in almost every other sport, there’s a backup guy. …In this system it’s very hard to do that because it’s not that type of game. I like the waiver system, I just want more definition around it.

Jeff Burton supports NASCAR giving the playoff waiver to Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson is the latest driver to get a playoff waiver due to him missing the Coca-Cola 600. The reason he missed the Cup Series race was he competed in the Indy 500, which was delayed for nearly four hours due to weather. After the Indy 500, Larson traveled to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, but it was called due to rain and lighting in the area. Burton liked that NACAR gave Larson the waiver.

“At the end of the day, I think NASCAR got it right for the fans,” Burton said. “I think our fan base wants to see Kyle Larson in the playoffs, I think the fans lose if he’s not in the playoffs. I’ve stated publicly he’s the best driver in the world. He’s exceptionally competitive in the Cup Series. A lot of people are going to come and watch him race for a championship.