After years of frustration from drivers, fans and many in the garage, NASCAR announced its new playoff format on Monday afternoon that will be implemented beginning in the 2026 season. The new NASCAR playoff format includes bringing back a form of the 10-race chase.
In a live-streamed NASCAR Championship format announcement, president Steve O’Donnell shared that the sport is going back to the “Chase” format moving forward.
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“Winning still had to matter. We had to make sure that that was a big component of what we were doing. We certainly wanted consistency to matter…We also wanted our fans to know we’re listening and our industry to know that we’re listening. With that, where we’ve landed, is The Chase is back.
NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell on the return of the Chase Championship Format
The NASCAR playoff system, featuring an elimination-style format, was introduced in 2014, with subsequent modifications leading to a 16-driver field competing across four rounds. This system also established the win-and-in format, which awards a playoff spot for a single victory, even if the driver is well outside the top 20 in the NASCAR points standings at the end of the regular season.
Following years of drivers, analysts, and racing icons publicly expressing their dislike for the existing system, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Committee was created. This panel—comprising more than two dozen media members, active drivers, Hall of Fame legends, and industry executives—met several times to discuss a new format for 2026. Their deliberations were then weighed by league executives.
After radio silence from NASCAR regarding the potential playoff format for 2026, it was announced this past week that an official announcement would be made on Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET. That is when the new playoff format is scheduled to be unveiled.
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With this format, NASCAR is returning to a system where the first 26 races in the Cup Series determine which drivers advance to the Chase based on points. From there, the postseason will consist of 16 drivers competing in a 10-race Chase across 10 different tracks.
Among the biggest changes—likely much to the delight of some of NASCAR’s top drivers—is that more points will be awarded for wins instead of a victory automatically earning a playoff spot. Under the previous format, a race winner received only five additional points over the driver who finished in second place.
Beginning in 2026, the winner of each race will receive 55 points instead of the previous 40. When the postseason begins, the driver with the most points at the end of the regular season will enter the Chase with 2,100 points, holding a 25-point lead over second place and a 35-point lead over third place. After that, the starting totals for fourth through 16th place will decrease by five-point increments.
NASCAR Championship Format Points Breakdown for The Chase
- 2,100 points
- 2,075 points
- 2,065 points
- 2,060 points
- 2,055 points
- 2,050 points
- 2,045 points
- 2,040 points
- 2,035 points
- 2,030 points
- 2,025 points
- 2,020 points
- 2,015 points
- 2,010 points
- 2,005 points
- 2,000 points
As noted earlier, the driver with the most points after all 10 races will be declared the NASCAR Cup Series champion. The new format has received strong support from across the industry, including from current and Hall of Fame drivers.
With the return of the 10-race chase for the championship, we now know at which tracks the NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2026 will be determined. The postseason will begin on Sunday, Sept. 6, with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, followed by the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, Sept. 13 (World Wide Technology Raceway), the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 19 (Bristol Motor Speedway), and the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, Sept. 27 (Kansas Speedway) to close out September.
In October, the chase will continue with the South Point 400 on Sunday, Oct. 4 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway), the Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday, Oct. 11 (Charlotte ROVAL), a playoff race on Sunday, Oct. 18 (Phoenix Raceway), and the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 25 (Talladega Superspeedway). Finally, in November, the Xfinity 500 will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Martinsville Speedway, followed by the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 8.
