The Options For the 2026 NASCAR Championship Format

The NASCAR playoff debate just got a major update, and this time it’s not just noise. Jordan Bianchi dropped some intriguing nuggets on Door Bumper Clear, and Kevin Harvick chimed in too, hinting that NASCAR is officially down to three final options for its championship format. The decision could define the next era of the sport, and it sounds like we’ll know by late January.

• Is NASCAR leaning toward the 3-3-4 setup, keeping the elimination format alive but with longer rounds?
• Could the return of the classic 10-race Chase bring back that mid-2000s intensity without the gimmicks?
• Or is the sport ready to “take its medicine” and go fully back to a season-long points format?
• And if that happens, would it actually help NASCAR rebuild trust with core fans—or alienate the newer crowd entirely?

No matter what route NASCAR takes, it’s a crossroads moment. The 3-3-4 might be the safest tweak, the 10-race Chase the compromise, and the full-season points the bold reset. But as Jared points out, whatever they pick will upset a chunk of the fanbase. Stability, not perfection, may be the real goal this time. Which format do you want to see in 2026? Drop your thoughts and check out the full discussion for all the details and speculation.

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