At a Glance
- NASCAR will crown its 2026 champion over the final 10-race stretch instead of a single winner-take-all finale
- The new format resurrects the 2004-2013 “Chase” system that rewards the driver who accumulates the most points
- Top 16 drivers qualify; no automatic berths for race victories
- Why it matters: Fans and drivers criticized the old elimination format for making a season hinge on one unpredictable race
NASCAR is scrapping its elimination-style playoff and returning to a 10-race sprint for the championship in 2026, a format last used more than a decade ago.
The change announced Monday replaces the convoluted system that whittled the field to four drivers and crowned a champion in a single finale. Under the revived “Chase,” the eligible driver with the most points over the final 10 races will win the title.
The New Championship Structure
The 2026 Cup Series schedule divides into two segments:
- Regular season: 26 races
- The Chase: 10 races
The final 10 races will air on NBC and Peacock (3 events) and USA Network (7 events). The season kicks off with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15, on FOX.
Qualifying for The Chase
Sixteen drivers will make the playoff field. The lineup is set strictly by regular-season points standings-no automatic berths for race winners, a departure from recent years.
| Seed | Points |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Points reset once-at the start of The Chase-and drivers keep those totals for the duration of the playoff.
Points System Tweaks
Victories carry more weight in 2026:
- Race wins jump from 40 to 55 points
- Second through last place keep the same scale (35 for second, 34 for third, etc.)
- Stage points remain: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top 10 in each of the first two stages
- A maximum 75-point day is possible by sweeping both stages and the race
Championship Decider
The title chase is straightforward: after 10 playoff races, the highest point total among the 16 qualifiers wins the championship. There are no eliminations, no cut lines, and no winner-take-all showdown.
The previous format, in place from 2014 through 2025, drew steady criticism for allowing mechanical failures, pit-road mistakes, or multi-car crashes to decide a season-long championship in a single race.
Key Takeaways
- NASCAR returns to a format that emphasizes consistency over a 10-race stretch
- Fans and drivers who disliked the one-race championship finale get their wish
- Points reset only once, rewarding strong regular-season performance with higher playoff seeds
- Broadcast coverage shifts among NBC, Peacock, and USA Network during the final 10 races
