NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Field to Expand to 10 Drivers in 2020

Last season, there was a log-jam of drivers trying to force their way into the eight-driver playoff field in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series.

And while it actually made for compelling TV as the series approached the regular season cutoff, it was disappointing to see drivers who had great years just barely miss the cut.

For 2020, the Series will expand their Playoff field to 10 drivers NASCAR announced on Tuesday.

“Expanding the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series playoff field to 10 is a win win for drivers, teams and most importantly, the passionate fans who support our Gander Trucks,” said NGROTS Managing Director Brad Moran. “This will only increase the competitive intensity this series offers as more drivers and teams vie for one of the most coveted championships in all of racing.”

The new Playoff structure will include three races in the Round of 10, which will be at Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Bristol Motor Speedway.

The next round will be the Round of 8 and will include races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway.

Then, of course, the season will conclude at Phoenix Raceway.

It’s good that more drivers will gain Playoffs experience in 2020, but it comes at a potential risk of watering down the Truck Series product.

In 2019, only 11 drivers competed in the full schedule.