Since 2014, the NASCAR Cup Series champion has been determined in a one race, “winner-take-all” finale.
But that event, where a quartet of drivers known as the Championship 4 compete straight up for a title, appears to be in its last installment. At least in its current form.
In response to feedback from competitors and fans, NASCAR looks poised to overhaul the way it crowns its Cup Series champion beginning in 2026.
Major Changes Seem To Be In Store For Championship 4
While NASCAR has made no official announcement about changes to the playoffs, a minimum of one major change appears imminent, based on comments made by NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell during a joint press conference Friday with NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps.
Rather than four drivers with equal points doing battle in a single season-ending race for the sport’s top prize, NASCAR is rumored to be shifting to a new championship model where four or five finalists fight it out for the title over as many as three races.
The title contender who earns the most points over the course of those races would be the champion. So, this would mean no more one-race championship contest where four drivers show up for the final weekend on equal points footing and the highest finisher among them is the champion.
The impetus for the potential change is simple. It would all but eliminate the possibility of the sport producing a champion who didn’t consistently perform at the highest level.
In other words, there would be no one-race wonder who wins the championship by somehow running significantly better in the final event than he did throughout most of the season.
Instead, the champion would have to be on top of his game for multiple weeks. To put it another way, he would be a completely deserving champion. And no one could dispute this.
“One of the concerns is future drivers coming up through the system, having multiple wins and not necessarily winning a championship,” O’Donnell said. “I think that’s something that as you look at the future of the sport, making sure that a driver who has delivered all season long has the ability to be named a champion.
“And not having something maybe come down to one race. That’s really been the focal point.”
NASCAR Answering Call From Fans In Changing Championship 4, Moving Final Race
Unlike most sports, where fans seem to have no trouble recognizing a champion as legitimate even if that champion merely comes on strong at the end of the season, NASCAR fans largely want the Cup Series champion to be someone who’s competed at an elite level all year.
“Our fans, right or wrong, are different than other stick-and-ball sports,” Steve O’Donnell said. “That’s OK. I’ve said this before: When the Giants win the Super Bowl, nobody questions it. Everyone says, the Giants are Super Bowl champions.
“Our fans don’t do that. That’s been a learning process for us.”
Don’t expect race wins to suddenly carry less weight under a retooled playoff format, however. It sounds like going to Victory Lane may still guarantee entry into the playoffs and subsequent playoff rounds.
“We want to reward winning,” O’Donnell said. “Whatever model we come up with, winning is very important.”
As of today, the only official change announced for 2026 Championship Weekend is the venue. As revealed earlier this year, the finale is moving from Phoenix Raceway to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Phoenix has hosted Championship Weekend since 2020. Homestead did so from 2002-2019.
How long Homestead will keep the final race is to be determined. NASCAR has expressed plans to move Championship Weekend among a few venues in the years to come.
This shift came at the request of many fans.
“That was probably the biggest ask: Rotate the championship,” O’Donnell said. “We can check that box off. There are going to be some other things we’ll have, as well.”
