Today (Monday 12th November) NASCAR officially announced major changes to the championship format in 2026, starting with binning the Playoffs and bringing back The Chase in a revised format.
Gone is the ‘win-and-in’ system – and gone is the elimination format – meaning the top 16 drivers from the regular season will have a 10-race shootout for the championship.
The format will also apply to the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series, with Chase eligibility falling to the top 12 and top 10 in regular season points respectively.
Wins are now awarded more points, benefitting those who win on a consistent basis. The winner of the regular season (most points after 26 races) will also receive a 25-point cushion over the second seed in the Chase, rewarding their efforts graciously.
The 10-race Chase for the championship was a popular format from 2004-2015 and will return in 2026, following continuous controversy surrounding the existing Playoff format.
The Playoffs have received mixed opinions from fans, pundits and drivers, besides sparking many controversies over the years.
The most recent of which happened at the 2025 Cup Series Championship finale, where Kyle Larson won the championship based on the happenstance of an Overtime finish, despite Denny Hamlin dominating the day. Hamlin only fell back as a result of a strategy call, albeit after completing the full race distance.
Joey Logano is a three-time champion under the Playoffs format (2018, 2022, 2024). His most recent championship followed a 17th-place average finish across the regular season and a low win rate over the year, sparking debate over the ‘legitimacy’ of his championships and becoming the textbook definition of ‘don’t hate the player, hate the game’.
The Playoffs have created many in-season controversies too, where the ‘win-and-you’re-in’ system has provoked reckless driving. After dominating the Richmond Fall race in 2024, Austin Dillon slipped behind Joey Logano on the final restart. Dillon proceeded to wipe out the #22 in the final turn, then swept down the track and knocked Hamlin into the wall in a bid to win and advance. He kept the win, but was stripped of Playoff eligibility for his actions.
Not only has the Chase returned this year, but the season finale will return to Homestead-Miami, following several years of Phoenix taking the final round of the post-season schedule.
Another well-received change for 2026 includes an increase from 670 to 750 horsepower on road courses and ovals shorter than 1.5 miles, in a conscious effort to produce more varied and tactical racing with the Gen 7 package. Overall, NASCAR’s racing product looks to take an upward trajectory in 2026, so it is imperative that NASCAR and its broadcasters maximise the entertainment value of the fan viewing experience.
The NASCAR Cup Series schedule will open with The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday 1st February, while the season-opening Daytona 500 will take place on the 15th.
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