What If NASCAR Had the Playoffs In 2001? 

Dread it, run from it, Jeff Gordon getting robbed by a playoff system arrives all the same.

Jeff Gordon actually dominated the last New Hampshire race. He “faded” back because Robby Gordon got into him causing Jeff to spin out Mike Wallace. Jeff showed his displeasure with Robby and NASCAR penalized him.

Jeff Was actually in contention to win in the last handful of laps, but he got screwed over by Robby Gordon.

Jeff Gordon is seemingly in every Championship 4 and has never won

"Late in the race, Jeff Gordon faded back into the pack." Aka Robby Gordon punted him out of the lead.

Love this series but the Loudon race is probably the most obvious case of how they would have raced differently. Loomis would have notified Jeff that he has no business racing Robby and probably would have just let him go by. 2000 will be wild for sure

I can’t wait till this series gets back into like the 80s 😂

Bobby Labonte was basically Joey Logano in 2018 this year

Black Flags Matter: Uploaded Eric Estepp: Uploaded The Iceberg: Uploaded DannyBTalks: Loading...

"Remember, this is just a hypothetical situation." I missed those words

I'm excited for the season where Jeff's team does the joke pit stop in the final race where Rick Hendrick fueled the car or whatever.

I can’t wait for 1964 version of this series

At this point, we need a *HYPOTHETICAL* t shirt... ADD THAT TO YOUR MERCH!

Next up, 2000, and then the roaring 90s! Would love to see how the 1992 season went, despite it having 29 races altogether.

‘Berg, love the cover pic. The best tend to clash at the top!💯

I would predict that Jeff Gordon wins in 2000 but his car was deemed illegal post race at Richmond and was deducted 100 points. Darlington (Southern 500) would be the final race before the playoffs in 2000. Other than a 39th place finish at Charlotte, Jeff Gordon had a super consistent final ten races.

Hey Ice, I know you’re axing this series and I’d like to extend a big thank you for your efforts. It was a fun ride for me!

Jeff Gordon didn't fade at New Hampshire. He flat out dominated, leading over 250 of the 300 scheduled laps. He was punted out of the lead by Robby Gordon late in the race. Jeff retaliated on the caution that followed and was then black flagged by NASCAR.

You have the best videos. Thanks for another ✊

Just from glancing at Bobby Labontes stats the 2 years before this one I predict that he will be a 3 peat champion. He was incredibly strong in the final 10 races both years. And with his dominance at Atlanta at the time he had a massive advantage. This is an awesome series.

love these videos

As a Labonte fan, this makes me happy. Three time champ Bobby. 1999-2001

Bobby Labonte went through a lot in the playoffs. Crash at Dover, flip at Dega, clutch win at Atlanta. Crazy

Something you forgot to mention in the video is that Jeff Gordon was actually leading late before getting wrecked by Robby Gordon in New Hampshire. And quite honestly, had the Playoffs existed back in 2001, I would've hated Robby Gordon even more.

Whoa. Bobby Labonte winning his 2nd championship if Nascar had the playoffs in 2001? That'll be a massive cataclysmic change in Nascar history forever.

Certainly interesting to see these scenarios I don’t know if I’d be too surprised on how it shook but hey if that was around we’d have Bobby LaBonte as 2 time cup champion and two in a row

The next series should be what if NASCAR had the Winston Cup format from 1949 to 1970...

Yes, IT'S FINALLY HERE!

SMOKE™️ was just warming up lol💯

Very very interesting!

If the playoffs existed back then, it would’ve been crazy. After watching the other hypothetical videos, sure we didn’t get the champions we wanted or have now, but we would have the action and drama we deserved.

awesome !!!

What if the 2009 and the 2012 seasons gad the 2003 points format?

Yes! So I can now brag Bobby was a "2-time" champ.

No, Jeff did not "fade back"... Robby literally went out his way to end that man's whole career.

Me: *sees video* Also me: *has fall Talladega flashbacks*

‘Playoffs 2001’ Thumbnail is 2000

love this series whens 2000 coming

I can't wait for 92'.

Would love to see you make videos of this form the 80s and 90s one day

more!..good!!.... MOOOORE!!!!

I think if Dale Earnhardt Sr. hadn't passed away at Daytona, I think he still would've been part of the playoffs with about 2 or 3 wins to be locked in.

hope to see the 2000 season

Imagine if playoff system were also implemented beyond 2001... Like 2014...

I was waiting for this to come out lol

Here before all the hypothetical memes

I am really looking forward to 2000.

You forgot to mention Dale Earnhardt’s probable outrage at nascar before that fateful Daytona 500

Iceberg, um, Jeff Gordon led damn near every lap before getting booted by Robby Gordon out of the lead at New Hampshire. Jeff's retaliatory bump on Robby cost him the title in the pits.

This was a great season

Not that bad! But, what if Nascar had the playoffs in 2000. Since I was born in 2000.

Hopefully you will do the 2000 season

Championship race at New Hampshire would blow ass

What about this idea for a schedule? Main Round 8. II: Daytona (FL) 15. II.: Talladega (AL) 22. II.: Greenville (SC) 8. III.: Austin (TX) 15. III.: Bristol (/TN) 25. III.: Sonoma (CA) 5. IV.: Richmond (VA) 12. IV.: Avondale (AZ) 19. IV.: Jolirt (IL) 2. V.: Hickory (NC) 9. V.: Thompson (CT) 16. V.: Canfield (OH) 30. V.: Watkens Glen (NY) 6. VI.: Brooklyn (/MI) 13. VI.: Long Pond (PA) 27. VI.: Montreal (ON) 4. VII.: Elkhart Lane (WI) 11. VII.: Fonda (NY) 25. VII.: Dover (/DE) 2. VIII.: Indianapolis (IN) 9. VIII.: Davenport (OH) 23. VIII.: Kansas City (/ KS) 30. VIII.: South Boston (VA) 5. IX.: Darlington (SC) 19. IX.: Loudon (NH) 26. IX.: Winston (NC) 3. X.: Pensacola (FL) 17. X.: Las Vegas (NV) 24. X.: Ridgeville (VA) 30. X.: Gladeville (TN) Championship Round 14. XI.: Forth Worth (TX) 21. XI.: Homestead (FL) 28. XI.: Hampton (GA) 12. XII.: Rennen der Meister; Jerez de Fronteira (E)

And now we enter The Intimidator Zone. Get out your #3 memorabilia,, everybody.

What about 2000. Would Dale Sr. win it or still finish 2nd or worse in the points. I'm a big Dale Sr. fan so I would like to know if he would get his record 8th championship.

The 90s are gonna be interesting when he gets to them

I like this series, but you realize if this was the format then the Gordon vs Gordon thing doesn't happen at New Hampshire. That's how Jeff "faded" and if you go back to 1995 Jeff's pitcrew wouldn't do that unorthodox pit stop. I realize you said things would be different, but 95 and 01 definitely would be.

It wasn’t mentioned that Robby Gordon blatantly destroyed Jeff Gordon’s race at Loudon

Only question here, do you think Harvick would have switched points to the Cup series or would he have still run for the Busch series title.

Man. Really thought Sterling Marlin would've won that year.

I wonder would have Smoke Rowdy or someone else got more champion's if it was always like this?

2000 Playoff Champion: Dale Sr.

Idea: if IndyCar had playoffs

Interesting the way that Bobby won the championship

Great job as always. Love the "just a hypothetical situation" intro. Is there any other Missing Rings video soon?

When will we see 2000

Jeff Gordon didn't fade to finish 15th. He got wrecked by Robby Gordon.

DO THE 1992 SEASON

I think that the title sponsors likely have some pull when deciding points systems. Think about it. Winston took over. That started the Winston Cup format. Then Nextel took over and we got the Chase. Finally Monster Energy took over and it changed to what it is now. The biggest hint is stage racing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't every racing series they sponsor have stage racing? Yeah, the type of Motorsports they sponsor make sense with stages. But what if Monster Energy pulled strings to get stages into NASCAR. I do like stage points. It makes sense under the Winston format though. Hear me out. If there were stages back then the consistency factor is even more emphasized. Not just consistency in the season. But during every single race. The points awarded would need adjusting. Adding 10-15 points to 1st as wins should definitely be the biggest priority. But stages without yellow flags - basically what position you are in by lap x - drivers would earn points for being in the top 10. It might have been a great system, and better than the current stage based format we have.

Idea: when you're done with this series, maybe move to the lower series?

The playoffs have never been kind to Gordon lol

I called it, Labonte as the 2001 champion. Also rip Dale Earnhardt, The Greatest NASCAR Driver of all time.

Should said Jeff Gordon almost won the Championship but Robby Gordon spun him near end the race. Lol

THE HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO IS BACK

SPOILER 9:41 - “Bobby Labonte finishes 3rd and it is enough. He is the 2001 Winston Cup Champion!!!”

Are you going to do if 2000 had the playoffs?

Do what if NASCAR had the playoffs in 2000

Gosh, Steve Park missed so many races

the thumbnail isn't even from 2001. the year before 2000 as Gordon and Stewart crashed moments after. even as hypothetical not fun to think about at all

Harvick might not have been in the playoffs since he missed one race. Gordon only ended up 15th at Loudon because he retaliated against Robby Gordon under caution, and was penalized a lap or 2. Probably wouldn't have done that if it was a final 4 situation.

hwo are you going to do 2000? since 36 races wasn't until 2001

Harvick would have gotten a waiver which NASCAR likely wouldn’t have given. But maybe

Who's gonna tell him the thumbnail is from 2000

*insert "hypothetical situation" comment here*

You completely ignored the fact that Jeff got wrecked by Robby at Loudon. That would've been something good to throw in the video as "And this move would only decide the win in real life, but it would decide the championship in this timeline." Missed opportunity.

RRAISE HELL PRAISE DALE.

i like how Phoenix ended up being a cutoff race

2000

U know if they raced differently under this system which they probs would dale might not have died...

I wish Bascar never had the playoffs

Does anybody know if he's done 2000 yet?

Jeff Gordon faded?!?!? Excuse me?!?! He was screwed over per usual.

5:26

It would have killed NASCAR nineteen years earlier. NASCAR isn't "racing" anymore. It's more like a popularity contest for thirty year olds.

2001 play off was good I did not think Sterlin Marlin would win

Yeah.....this is a great example of how bad the playoffs are; Gordon was by far the best driver that season. Should have never went to the playoffs or chase and just added stage racing and the points per position change.

I finally found the Outro song ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9FxRCu3vEZ0.html

do 2000

Damn I was rooting for hamilton