Charlotte, NC, January 13, 2026
NASCAR announces the reinstatement of its original Chase championship format for the upcoming season, aiming to reward consistent performance and enhance the significance of race victories. This change, driven by feedback from fans and stakeholders, eliminates automatic postseason berths for race winners and emphasizes points standings instead. The revised structure will feature a 10-race postseason for the NASCAR Cup Series, with a new points system designed to encourage aggressive racing. The aim is to celebrate year-long excellence while maintaining the excitement of championship battles.
Charlotte, NC – NASCAR is bringing back its original “Chase” championship format for the 2026 season, a significant shift designed to emphasize consistent performance throughout the entire racing calendar and reward race winners more substantially. This Nationwide announcement, made on Monday, January 12, 2026, follows a comprehensive, nearly two-year review process that gathered input from various stakeholders, including team owners, drivers, manufacturers, tracks, broadcast partners, and crucially, fans. The revamped system will replace the elimination-style playoff format that has been in place for over a decade.
The Return of The Chase: What’s New for 2026 (Nationwide)
The core of the new 2026 format, which will apply to the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is a return to a 10-race postseason for the Cup Series, a nine-race postseason for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and a seven-race postseason for the Craftsman Truck Series. The champion will be determined by the driver who accumulates the most points during this final stretch of races, culminating at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8, 2026.
Key Changes and How Drivers Qualify (Nationwide)
Under the new system, automatic berths into the postseason for regular-season race winners have been eliminated. Instead, qualification for The Chase will be strictly based on regular-season points standings. For the NASCAR Cup Series, 16 drivers will advance to The Chase. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will feature 12 drivers, and the Craftsman Truck Series will have 10 drivers in their respective postseasons.
The points structure has also been modified to place a greater emphasis on winning throughout the regular season. A race victory will now be worth 55 points, an increase from the previous 40 points. This change is intended to encourage more aggressive racing and reward drivers who actively pursue wins, rather than solely focusing on securing strong points finishes. Points for other finishing positions and stage points will remain unchanged.
Postseason Points Reset and Advantage for Regular-Season Champion (Nationwide)
Before The Chase begins, the points for the qualified drivers will be reset. The regular-season champion will receive a significant 25-point cushion over the second seed. The points will then scale downwards for the remaining qualifiers, starting with 2,100 points for the regular-season champion, 2,075 for second place, 2,065 for third, and continuing in five-point decrements down to 2,000 points for the 16th seed. This seeding structure is designed to reward consistent performance over the 26-race regular season while ensuring a competitive battle in The Chase. There will be no driver eliminations every three races during The Chase, marking a departure from the previous format.
Background and Rationale for the Change (Nationwide)
The decision to revert to The Chase format stemmed from extensive feedback, particularly from fans who expressed weariness with the periodic tweaks and elimination-style system implemented since 2014. The previous format, which included multiple three-race elimination rounds and a winner-take-all season finale, often led to situations where consistency over the season was overshadowed by performance in a single race.
NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell indicated that the revised championship model aims to “reward driver and team performance each and every race” and “honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special”. The new format seeks to provide a larger sample size for determining the champion, bolster the importance of each race on the schedule, and reward consistency while still valuing winning. The organization is also officially retiring the term “playoffs” in favor of “The Chase” or “postseason”.
The original “Chase for the Cup” format was first introduced in 2004 and was in place until 2013, a period during which Jimmie Johnson notably secured six of his record-tying seven championships. The return to this style reflects a desire to blend the excitement of a championship battle with a stronger acknowledgment of year-long excellence. The 2026 season schedule will remain as previously announced, with the finale taking place at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions about NASCAR’s new championship format:
Q: What is the biggest change in NASCAR’s championship format for 2026?
A: The biggest change is the return to the original “Chase” championship format, replacing the elimination-style playoff system that has been in place for over a decade.
Q: How many races are in The Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series?
A: The Chase will consist of the final 10 races for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Q: How do drivers qualify for The Chase in 2026?
A: Qualification for The Chase will be strictly based on regular-season points standings. Automatic berths for regular-season race winners have been eliminated.
Q: How many drivers will compete in The Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series?
A: 16 drivers will advance to The Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Q: What is the points value for a race win in the 2026 format?
A: A race victory will now be worth 55 points, an increase from the previous 40 points.
Q: Will there be eliminations during The Chase in 2026?
A: No, there will be no driver eliminations every three races during The Chase.
Q: What advantage does the regular-season champion receive in The Chase?
A: The regular-season champion will receive a significant 25-point cushion over the second seed at the start of The Chase.
Key Features of the 2026 NASCAR Championship Format (Nationwide)
| Feature | Description | Applicable Series |
|---|---|---|
| Championship Format | Return to “The Chase” (points-based, no eliminations). | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| Cup Series Postseason Length | 10 races. | NASCAR Cup Series |
| O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Postseason Length | 9 races. | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series |
| Craftsman Truck Series Postseason Length | 7 races. | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series |
| Qualification Method | Strictly based on regular-season points standings. | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| Number of Cup Series Chase Drivers | 16 drivers. | NASCAR Cup Series |
| Number of O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Drivers | 12 drivers. | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series |
| Number of Craftsman Truck Series Chase Drivers | 10 drivers. | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series |
| Points for a Race Win | 55 points (increased from 40). | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| “Win-and-You’re-In” Rule | Eliminated (no automatic berths for regular-season winners). | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| Postseason Eliminations | None during The Chase (all qualified drivers compete for the title until the finale). | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| Regular-Season Champion Advantage (Cup Series) | 25-point cushion over second seed at the start of The Chase. | NASCAR Cup Series |
| Finale Location | Homestead-Miami Speedway. | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
| New Terminology | “The Chase” or “Postseason” (replacing “Playoffs”). | NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series |
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