NASCAR returns to The Chase playoff format blending season points and playoffs

NASCAR announced a return to a points-based 'The Chase' playoff format in which 16 drivers qualify and the driver leading the points after 10 playoff races will be champion.

NASCAR announced a return to a points-based "The Chase" playoff format that will determine the Cup Series champion by points after a 10-race playoff. The move replaces the multi-round elimination structure used since 2014 and follows a yearlong review by a 34-person committee. Officials and data analysts ran wide-ranging simulations and debated several options before settling on the new system. The change aims to blend season-long consistency with a late-season championship fight. Key details: - Sixteen drivers will qualify for the 2026 playoffs. - The Cup champion will be the driver atop the playoff points standings after 10 races. - The format is fully points-based with no wild-card "win-and-in" slots, and race winners will receive 55 points instead of 40. - Racing Insights ran thousands of simulated seasons using historical data and found top regular-season performers generally fare well under the new system. - The committee considered keeping the elimination format, a 3-3-4 elimination variant, and a full-season points champion before choosing The Chase. Summary: NASCAR frames the change as an effort to reward sustained excellence while preserving a postseason competition, and league leaders expressed confidence that the format balances competing views. Data simulations were cited as supporting the approach. Undetermined at this time.