In a blockbuster announcement, NASCAR revealed on Monday the return of “The Chase” as its national series championship format for 2026.
To put it another way: The new format is not entirely new. Rather, it’s a nod to the roots of NASCAR’s original postseason format that the NASCAR Cup Series used from 2004-2013 after abandoning the longstanding full-season championship structure that many people around the sport hoped might return for the upcoming season.
The changes for 2026 come after an extensive review that included collaboration between team owners, drivers, OEMs, tracks, broadcast partners and NASCAR fans.
“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell said. “At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special. Our fans are at the heart of everything we do. And this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.”
"The tide had turned" on the old format…listen to Steve O'Donnell explain how the change came about. pic.twitter.com/90LfWdTwot
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) January 12, 2026
The revamped format follows an exhaustive Playoff Committee and fan-feedback review that put forward three key recommendations. One was a larger sample size for a championship. The second was to bolster the importance of each race. The third was rewarding consistency while maintaining the importance of winning.
Monday’s announcement comes a little more than a month from the official start of the 2026 Cup Series season, which kicks off with the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on February 15. The Cook Out Clash, an exhibition race set to take place for the second time at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina, is scheduled for February 1.
Breaking Down The Biggest Changes To The New NASCAR Championship Format
Simply put, under the new NASCAR championship format, the driver with the most points after the playoff slate will be crowned champion of the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, respectively.
That means no more playoff elimination rounds. It also means no more Championship 4, where four drivers enter the final race with equal points and battle head-to-head for the title. Additionally, it means NASCAR will no longer crown a regular season champion. Also gone are playoff points, which NASCAR previously awarded for race wins and stage wins in the regular season.
The Chase, as the Cup Series playoffs were originally known and will be known once again, will include the final 10 Cup races. That’s the same number of events the playoffs have featured since the initial playoff iteration over two decades ago.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series playoff will consist of the final nine races. Truck Series drivers will chase a title over the final seven.
In another huge break from the most recent championship format, which had been in place since 2014, a race win will no longer guarantee entry into the playoffs. This reversal from the past 12 seasons is designed to add importance to every event on the schedule. Winning still matters, but drivers must continue to perform at a high level throughout the regular season — even after going to Victory Lane.
Closer Look At New Championship Format Reveals More Subtle Shifts
Another shift in the new NASCAR championship format pertains to points earned for wins. A victory will now give the winner driver 55 points. Previously, a win paid 40 points. Points for all other finishing positions, including stage finishes, remain as they’ve been.
The Chase will feature the top drivers in regular-season points after 26 races, including those who may not have won a race. Returning to a points-based qualification system aims to reinforce the value of consistent, season-long performance. The new format also seeks to ensure drivers who execute across the full schedule can compete for a championship.
The Chase in the NASCAR Cup Series will consist of 16 drivers, just as under the most recent championship format. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship field will be set at 12 drivers. The Truck Series championship field will feature 10.
Although there’s no longer a regular season title, the top driver at the end of the regular season will earn a 25-point playoff cushion over second-place. Point totals will be reset after the regular season, as they’ve been since the initial Chase in 2004. However, playoff seeds will now be based on points position at the end of the regular season, not wins.
Below is how the Chase standings will look for the Cup Series, in terms of seeding and point totals, when the playoffs begin.
1st: 2,100
2nd: 2,075
3rd: 2,065
4th: 2,060
5th: 2,055
6th: 2,050
7th: 2,045
8th: 2,040
9th: 2,035
10th: 2,030
11th: 2,025
12th: 2,020
13th: 2,015
14th: 2,010
15th: 2,005
16th: 2,000
Of course, the new NASCAR championship format isn’t the only big change coming to the NASCAR playoffs in 2026. In addition, as previously announced, the season finale is moving from Phoenix Raceway to Homestead-Miami Speedway — home of the final race from 2002-2019.
