Everything We Know About Dodge and Ram’s Return to NASCAR (So Far)
What’s Happening? One major storyline to follow during the 2025 and 2026 NASCAR seasons is the ongoing saga of Dodge and…
Gifts for NASCAR Fans
NASCAR has revised several rules ahead of the 2026 season, including those revolving around new manufacturers, eligibility to win the fastest lap award, Chase waivers, and rules for competing in lower NASCAR divisions.
Much like they did with the Open Exemption Provisional in 2025, NASCAR is introducing a new provisional that will expand field sizes should those eligible for the provisional not make a race.
This time, however, the rule is focused on manufacturers, rather than drivers.
With the new OEM Provisional, in the first three races of the season, and only the first three races of the season, new manufacturers in NASCAR will be guaranteed up to four guaranteed starting spots in those races, should their entries not make the field.
This year, the rule will only be eligible for one OEM and one team, Ram and Kaulig Racing, who are entering five full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams during the 2026 season.
Should up to four of their five trucks not make the field for the Truck Series season opener at Daytona, NASCAR guarantees spots 37-40 to Ram trucks, though the series usually caps the field at 36 starters.
What’s Happening? One major storyline to follow during the 2025 and 2026 NASCAR seasons is the ongoing saga of Dodge and…
The second most important development from this rules bulletin involves NASCAR’s newest bonus point, the Xfinity Fastest Lap, which awards one point to the driver who earns the fastest lap during any points-paying race throughout the three NASCAR National Series seasons.
Last season, fans and industry members focused discussions around how teams were utilizing the point salvage of what were, otherwise, lost points days.
Kyle Larson, for example, won the Xfinity Fastest Lap four times, but in three of those races, the No. 5 team finished 32nd or worse, averaging a 35.6 finish in those three races. What Larson and team did in those races, COTA, Mexico City, and Watkins Glen, after early trouble, the team would repair and send the car back out to run what were essentially run qualifying laps, earning him the bonus point three times.
While Larson wasn’t the only driver who did this, NASCAR took notice of those who did, and talks entering the offseason suggested change was on the way, and those changes are finally here.
In 2026, drivers who go to the garage on the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) and return to the race forfeit their eligibility to take home the fastest lap bonus. But, should they set the fastest lap of their prior to their time in the garage, they will still take home the bonus point.
What’s Happening? Though the three NASCAR National Series have yet to have their season finale, NASCAR’s Mike Forde claims that there…
Earlier this week, NASCAR reintroduced the Chase format to replace the elimination-style playoff format used since 2014. This rule book update officially ended the playoff era, removing the term entirely and replacing it with the Chase.
Though the new system features many overhauls, one key factor is transitioning with NASCAR to the new Chase from the former playoff format.
This rule stated that to be eligible for the playoffs, drivers must compete in every race of the 26-race regular season. They could still make the playoffs via receiving a waiver, but, unless the absence were for a NASCAR-approved reason, they would forfeit all playoff points in doing so, meaning drivers would start the playoffs at a severe disadvantage.
With the changes to the championship system, including the removal of playoff points, NASCAR has changed the rule to clarify that should a driver start the Chase with a waiver granted for an approved absence or NASCAR-initiated reason (including suspension), their points will be reset to the bare minimum of 2000 in the Cup Series, 2020 in the OAP Series, and 2030 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
What’s Happening? In 2026, after a nearly year-long search for a new points system, NASCAR’s three National Series will return to…
Friday, NASCAR also clarified some rules surrounding competing in the lower NASCAR National Series.
First, 17-year-old drivers can now compete in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at tracks 1.25 miles or less and all road courses on the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule.
Second, drivers declared to race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship with three or more years of experience in the Cup Series can now compete in 10 OAP Series races and eight Craftsman Truck Series events throughout the season.
Both of these rules were announced in early November, but new with this rules bulletin is that these Cup Series drivers can now compete in both the OAP and Truck Series regular-season finales, but cannot compete in ANY Chase races for either series.
What’s Happening? NASCAR could change rules surrounding NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in its two lower national series, according to a…
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