In 2026, after a nearly year-long search for a new points system, NASCAR’s three National Series will return to a “Chase” format, bringing NASCAR’s “playoff” to an end, and returning to the non-elimination postseason format used until 2014.
At its core, this is the same as every historic NASCAR postseason system used since 2004, with a certain number of races setting the field, and a set number rounding out the season.
Each series will maintain its respective number of Playoff spots, with the Cup Series at 16, the OAP Series at 12, and the Craftsman Truck Series at 10.
Furthermore, Stage Points will continue to be a part of this system, as well as the Xfinity Fastest Lap bonus point.
First and foremost, the three NASCAR National Series will solely refer to the system, the “Chase,” which is the first shift in the new format, removing the vernacular “Playoff” from the NASCAR dictionary.
Each series will have slight alterations to its version of the new Chase, but at its core, the system is the same for each series.
A key difference fans may look for is the number of races and the number of drivers each National Series has. As seen below, the only difference from the 2014-2025 Playoffs is the NASCAR OAP Series, which now has nine playoff races.
NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
But, in this shift from Playoffs to Chase, the major changes are found in the finer details.
For all three series, the controversial “win-and-in,” which gave winning drivers an automatic spot in the playoffs, is gone, meaning the Chase field is based solely on points earned before the start of the Chase.
Alongside this change, eliminations will no longer happen, meaning that drivers are in the Chase from the first race to the final race 36, though, much like the Chase format, drivers will mathematically be ‘eliminated’ as the Chase goes on.
Last, and one of the more dramatic overhauls, focuses on playoff points, rounds, and resets, which are no longer a factor, stripping NASCAR postseason of some of its most complex aspects, taking NASCAR’s championship back to a highly requested, simpler format.
Across the three series, points will change, as a win is now worth 55 points, instead of 40, though the rest of the field receives the same points as before, for example, 2nd gets 35, 3rd gets 34, and so on. This gives a heavy advantage in points to winners, ensuring that the bulk of winning drivers will likely make the playoffs.
After 26 races, the points reset, with the first-place driver getting a 25-point advantage, and second at ten points, before they decrease in intervals of five.
After the Chase Reset:
* – The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stops at Ten Drivers
** – The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Stops at 12 Drivers
With this system, which features no resets, a chase driver in, say, sixth place, could win the season finale, but not win the championship, meaning that sample size matters more than anything.
This article will be updated as more information on the points system is made available.
