NASCAR is officially walking away from its elimination-style playoff system in 2026, bringing back The Chase as the championship format across all three national series. This move will fundamentally reshape how titles will be won this season.
NASCAR’s Return to the Chase Changes the Path to a Championship
Beginning next season, the Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series will all crown champions based on cumulative points over a defined postseason stretch. This ends more than a decade of elimination-style playoffs. The change places renewed emphasis on consistency across the entire year while still rewarding race victories.
The revised format closely mirrors the Chase system used in the Cup Series from 2004 through 2013, with some modern updates. Field sizes remain unchanged with 16 drivers in the Cup Series postseason.
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However, qualification will now be determined strictly by regular-season points standings. NASCAR has eliminated the “win-and-you’re-in” rule, meaning race winners are no longer guaranteed postseason berths.
Once the ‘Chase’ begins, points will be reset for all qualified drivers. Each series’ regular-season champion will receive a 25-point premium entering the postseason. The top seed will begin the Chase with 2,100 points, the second seed with 2,075, and the third with 2,065, followed by five-point decrements for each subsequent seed.
Unlike the old format, there will be no elimination rounds and no single-race championship showdown. Instead, the driver who has the most points at the end of the Chase will be crowned champion.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
- Feb 1 – Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
- Feb 15 – Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway
- Feb 22 – Autotrader 400, EchoPark Speedway
- Mar 1 – DuraMax Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas
- Mar 8 – Straight Talk Wireless 500, Phoenix Raceway
- Mar 15 – Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Mar 22 – Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway
- Mar 29 – Cook Out 400, Martinsville Speedway
- Apr 12 – Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
- Apr 19 – AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway
- Apr 26 – Jack Link’s 500, Talladega Superspeedway
- May 3 – Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY, Texas Motor Speedway
- May 10 – Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen International
- May 17 – NASCAR All-Star Race, Dover Motor Speedway
- May 24 – Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway
- May 31 – Cracker Barrel 400, Nashville Superspeedway
- Jun 7 – FireKeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway
- Jun 14 – NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono, Pocono Raceway
- Jun 21 – Anduril 250, San Diego
- Jun 28 – Toyota / Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway
- Jul 5 – NASCAR Cup Series Race at Chicagoland, Chicagoland Speedway
- Jul 12 – Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart, EchoPark Speedway
- Jul 19 – Window World 450, North Wilkesboro Speedway
- Jul 26 – Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Aug 9 – Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, Iowa Speedway
- Aug 15 – Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway
- Aug 23 – NASCAR Cup Series Race at New Hampshire, New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Aug 29 – Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway – Regular-season finale
Post Season
- Sept 6 – Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway
- Sept 13 – Enjoy Illinois 300, World Wide Technology Raceway
- Sept 19 – Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway
- Sept 27 – Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway
- Oct 4 – South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Oct 11 – Bank of America ROVAL 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
- Oct 18 – Freeway Insurance 500, Phoenix Raceway
- Oct 25 – Yellawood 500, Talladega Superspeedway
- Nov 1 – Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway
- Nov 8 – NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Homestead-Miami Speedway
With the full 2026 schedule now released, NASCAR’s return to The Chase signals one of the most consequential competitive shifts of the modern era. One that can redefine championship strategies, team priorities, and fans’ experience.
