TC Daily Pit Stop: Justin Marks Doesn't Feel Current Playoff Format is What is Right for the Future; Collars & Co. Named Official Apparel Partner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
TC Daily Pit Stop: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Marks Says NASCAR’s ‘Game 7’ Championship Format Has Lost Its Magic
As NASCAR eyes a new championship format for the 2026 season, discussion is heating up across the sport about how best to determine its champions. Since 2014, NASCAR has relied on a Playoff system culminating in a one-race, winner-take-all finale, but many in the industry, including Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, believe it’s time for a change.
Marks shared his thoughts in an interview on SiriusXM Speedway with Dave Moody, explaining that while the “game seven” championship concept sounds thrilling in theory, it loses its authenticity when fans know it’s coming every season.
Marks acknowledged that the original adoption of the one-race championship format was a bold and necessary experiment for NASCAR during a transitional period. However, he believes the system has run its course.
According to Marks, the sport should strike a better balance between rewarding consistent excellence over the full season and maintaining the late-year excitement that the Playoffs bring.
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Collars & Co. Named Official Apparel Partner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Johnson to Serve as Brand Ambassador
Collars & Co., the fast-rising apparel brand that gained national attention on Shark Tank, has added another major name to its growing roster of sports partnerships. The company announced a new collaboration with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who will serve as a brand ambassador. As part of the deal, Collars & Co. also becomes the official apparel partner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, the NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by Johnson. The partnership emphasizes both performance and polish, values Johnson says align perfectly with his own approach on and off the track.
For Collars & Co., securing Johnson marks another milestone in its expansion into the world of professional sports, following collaborations with figures like Joe Buck and Greg Olsen. Founder and CEO Justin Baer praised Johnson’s leadership and style as a natural fit for the brand’s modern menswear vision. The announcement comes on the heels of a strong 2025 season for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, highlighted by multiple top-10 finishes and Johnson’s impressive third-place run in the Daytona 500. Looking ahead, the NASCAR legend has already confirmed plans to return for the 2026 San Diego street race at Naval Base Coronado.
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Hamlin ‘Knew What It Was Like to Be Champion’ Before Phoenix Heartbreak
Trackhouse Finalizes Driver-Crew Chief Lineup, Car Numbers for 2026
Corey Day Gets Nod to Run Full O’Reilly Schedule with Hendrick Motorsports
Parker Retzlaff Announced as Driver of Viking Motorsports’ No. 99 in 2026
Jimmie Johnson Intends to Compete in NASCAR Cup Street Race at San Diego
Zilisch’s Bittersweet Ending: From Xfinity Heartbreak to a Missed WEC Opportunity