Rumor Mill: NASCAR’s New Championship Format Will Be “One of Three Things”

What’s Happening?

As the 2025 NASCAR season draws to a close, fans are awaiting NASCAR’s final decision on its playoff system. Amid the chaos, a NASCAR insider recently claimed that the final decision will likely be one of three well-known systems.

As the NASCAR world sets its sights on Phoenix Raceway for this season’s NASCAR championship weekend, there is a strange feeling of change on the horizon.

Among other rumored changes is the looming decision about NASCAR’s playoff system; however, the tone has shifted towards a change to the points system as a whole.

Throughout the 2025 season, NASCAR has openly explored different commentary on its current system, as well as gauging other ideas for point systems from a Playoff committee.

While many thought this would result in a new playoff system, a return to a full-season points system — something not utilized by NASCAR since 2003 — has seen immense strides in support as of late.

NASCAR has stated that it will not announce a new system until this year’s season is complete, so as not to detract from the crowning of what appears to be the final champion. But that doesn’t mean NASCAR has put working towards a new system on pause.

Full Season? Chase? New Playoff?

During an appearance on Door Bumper Clear, NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic stated that the current system is “going to be gone” and that NASCAR is considering three potential points formats for 2026 and beyond.

“It’s going to be one of three things. Now, what that likelihood is, it’s still figuring out. It’s either gonna to be a season-long. It’s either gonna be the old ten race chase. . . the duration of 10 races or the 3-3-4.” — Jordan Bianchi

The first and last options should be no surprise to NASCAR fans.

Throughout the season, members of NASCAR’s Playoff Committee spoke openly about the events that transpired during these meetings.

Often, the discussion arose that there needs to be more races to decide a champion, with Bianchi teasing a playoff of three races, three races, and four final races as a potential option during an episode of DBC earlier this fall.

However, shortly after this episode, members of the NASCAR Playoff Committee, including Jeff Gluck of The Athletic and Denny Hamlin, claimed that there were new supporters of a full-season points system within the committee, leading NASCAR to consider the idea seriously.

But, to the surprise of many fans, Bianchi claims a return to the 10-race “Chase”, the original playoff format used by NASCAR from 2004 to 2013, is still in contention.

This format had no rounds, no true eliminations, and one reset after race 26, with field sizes ranging from 10 to 12 drivers throughout its history. A return to this more simplistic system, with an iconic and catchy name, has a large network of support among fans, though they are often overlooked in the conversation.

Some fans have even suggested a middle ground, with a 10- to 12-driver chase with an elimination at the halfway point, though Bianchi did not mention this.

As of presstime, there is no set date for the announced new format, though it would likely occur in the new year.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.