NASCAR has announced a new championship format just ahead of the 2026 season
The NASCAR Chase began with the 2004 season. It marked the first year of a 10-race playoff format to conclude the season. Since then, NASCAR has made several adjustments to the format.
Last season, a committee of members from the industry spoke on possible changes to the championship format. Recently, their findings and suggestions were submitted to NASCAR for consideration.
Those recommendations:
– A larger sample size for a championship
– Bolster the importance of each race
– Rewarding consistency while maintaining the importance of winning
New format announced
Today, NASCAR has officially launched a new championship format beginning with the 2026 season. The Chase is making a return and it will be a 26-race regular season along with a 10-race playoff.
Playoffs rounds are now gone. There will be no eliminations once the The Chase begins. All 16 playoff drivers will battle until the final race of the season.
The point leader will go into The Chase with 2,100 points. Second place in the regular season enters with 2,075 points.
Race wins will earn more points in 2026. Race winners will now earn 55 points, jumping from 40.
Win-and-you’re-in is gone from the playoffs. A win will no longer grant drivers a seat at the championship table. They’ll still need to earn enough points to qualify.
“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR President. “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 other divisions will also see a new format. Playoffs will be the final nine races for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the final seven races for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
2026 Schedule
NASCAR Cup Series
Day | Date | Race | Network | Time
Sunday
February 1
Clash at Bowman Gray
FOX
8:00pm ET
Thursday
February 12
Daytona Duels
FS1
7:00pm ET
Sunday
February 15
Daytona 500
FOX
2:30pm ET
Sunday
February 22
EchoPark Speedway
FOX
3:00pm ET
Sunday
March 1
Circuit of the Americas
FOX
3:30pm ET
Sunday
March 8
Phoenix Raceway
FS1
3:30pm ET
Sunday
March 15
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
FS1
4:00pm ET
Sunday
March 22
Darlington Raceway
FS1
3:00pm ET
Sunday
March 29
Martinsville Speedway
FS1
3;30pm ET
Sunday
April 12
Bristol Motor Speedway
FS1
3:00pm ET
Sunday
April 19
Kansas Speedway
FOX
2:00pm ET
Sunday
April 26
Talladega Superspeedway
FOX
3:00pm ET
Sunday
May 3
Texas Motor Speedway
FS1
3:30pm ET
Sunday
May 10
Watkins Glen International
FS1
3:00pm ET
Sunday
May 17
Dover Motor Speedway
(All-Star Race)
FS1
3:00pm ET
Sunday
May 24
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Prime Video
6:00pm ET
Sunday
May 31
Nashville Superspeedway
Prime Video
7:00pm ET
Sunday
June 7
Michigan International Speedway
Prime Video
3:00pm ET
Sunday
June 14
Pocono Raceway
Prime Video
3:00pm ET
Sunday
June 21
San Diego
Prime Video
4:00pm ET
Sunday
June 28
Sonoma Raceway
TNT Sports
3:30pm ET
Sunday
July 5
Chicagoland Speedway
TNT Sports
6:00pm ET
Sunday
July 12
EchoPark Speedway
TNT Sports
7:00pm ET
Sunday
July 19
North Wilkesboro Speedway
TNT Sports
7:00pm ET
Sunday
July 26
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
TNT Sports
2:00pm ET
Sunday
August 9
Iowa Speedway
USA
3:30pm ET
Saturday
August 15
Richmond Raceway
USA
7:00pm ET
Sunday
August 23
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
USA
3:00pm ET
Saturday
August 29
Daytona International Speedway
NBC
7:30pm ET
The Chase Begins
Sunday
September 6
Darlington Raceway
USA
5:00pm ET
Sunday
September 13
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
USA
3:00pm ET
Saturday
September 19
Bristol Motor Speedway
USA
7:30pm ET
Sunday
September 27
Kansas Speedway
USA
3:00pm ET
Sunday
October 4
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
USA
5:30pm ET
Sunday
October 11
Charlotte Roval
USA
3:00pm ET
Sunday
October 18
Phoenix Raceway
USA
3:00pm ET
Sunday
October 25
Talladega Superspeedway
NBC
2:00pm ET
Sunday
November 1
Martinsville Speedway
NBC
2:00pm ET
Sunday
November 8
Homestead-Miami Speedway
NBC
3:00pm ET
Playoff Seeding
This is how the playoffs will begin based on regular season standings:
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
Mark Martin knocks the NASCAR playoff format
