NASCAR’s Chase is BACK
What’s Happening? In 2026, after a nearly year-long search for a new points system, NASCAR’s three National Series will return to…
Gifts for NASCAR Fans
In 2026, NASCAR is returning to a simplified, “Chase” format to crown its three NASCAR National Series Champions. The Chase was first introduced in 2004 and has not been used in its traditional form since 2013. So, how does the new Chase stack up against previous iterations of its ancestors?
What’s Happening? In 2026, after a nearly year-long search for a new points system, NASCAR’s three National Series will return to…
NASCAR’s new Chase Format is familiar to past iterations, though there are some key differences.
First, the system will also be used in the two lower NASCAR National Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with the Trucks having 10 drivers/seven races, the OAP Series having 12drivers/nine races.
Like every past NASCAR Playoff format, the Cup Series Chase will be a total of ten races, but expanded to 16 drivers from past iterations of 10, 12, and technically 13 (if you know you know).
Points Awarded Per Race in the 2026 NASCAR Chase
Points will be different from past years, but extremely different from those used under past Chase iterations, with the winner getting 55 points, and the rest of the field decreasing by one point all the way to 36th place.
Points Reset for the 2026 NASCAR Chase
The reset in 2026 will give the points leader at the start of the Chase a 25-point advantage, then dropping in increments of ten points from second to third, and then five from fourth to 16th.
* – The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stops at Ten Drivers
** – The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Stops at 12 Drivers
Variables for 2026
In the new 2026 NASCAR Chase system, there are two overall variables compared to past versions.
First is stage points, which are awarded after in-race stages to the top-ten finishers, decreasing by 1 point after the stage winner receives ten points. Second is the Xfinity Fastest Lap award, which awards the driver with the fastest in-race lap one bonus point.
This means the maximum number of points per race in 2026 is 76.
NASCAR’s first Chase system was introduced for the 2004 season for only the NASCAR Cup Series. The original system was simple, with no automatic bids, one reset, ten drivers, and ten races.
Points Awarded Per Race in the 2004-2006 NASCAR Chase
The points awarded per race were the same as those used prior to the Chase’s introduction in the Latford, or Winston Cup, points system. Though there was one key change, as winners in 2004 received 180 points, as opposed to 2003’s 175 points.
Points Reset for the 2004-2006 NASCAR Chase
The 2004-2006 Chase reset is very different from the new Chase, with drivers being separated by five points no matter their position.
Variables for 2004-2006
For this time period, the system featured five bonus points for any driver who led a lap during a race, and five additional bonus points to the driver who led the most laps during a race.
This means the maximum number of points per race was 190.
The 2007 to 2010 Chase system was not that different from the one used from 2004 to 2006, but there were two key changes to the system. Starting in 2007, two more drivers were added, taking the Chase field to 12 entries, and the winner would now receive 185 points.
Points Awarded Per Race in the 2007-2010 NASCAR Chase
Below is the revised system for 2007, featuring the 15-point advantage for a race winner.
Points Reset for the 2007-2010 NASCAR Chase
The 2007-2010 Chase reset was the first to see a major variation; instead of 5050 points, the leader would be reset to 5060, dropping 20 points to second at 5040, and tying fourth and fifth at 5020, sixth through 11th at 5010, with the final driver sitting at 5000 points.
Variables for 2007-2010
This version of the Chase still featured five bonus points for any driver who led a lap during a race, and the five additional bonus points to the driver who led the most laps during a race.
This means the maximum number of points per race was 195.
In 2011, NASCAR overhauled not only the Chase but also how many points drivers received each race and who qualified for the playoffs.
These changes included a reset to points, with the field separated by one point, new bonus points for winning a race, and a change to the Chase field, with the final two spots reserved for the sport’s winningest drivers who did not make the Chase on points. In 2011, these drivers were Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin.
Overall, this system is viewed as the first step into NASCAR’s eventual elimination playoff format, first used in 2014 (still under the Chase name), as the 2011 system featured automatic bids and a unique way to reset points.
In the final Chase cutoff race for this system, controversy resulted in NASCAR adding Jeff Gordon as the 13th driver in the Chase. This version of the Chase is the most recent, traditional, no-round, no-elimination version of a NASCAR postseason used until the new Chase was introduced this season.
Points Awarded Per Race in the 2011-2013 NASCAR Chase
Below are the points awarded, which started at 43 points to the winner, and dropped in increments of one point, though the winner technically automatically had 46 points, thanks to the three bonus points awarded to them for winning.
Points Reset for the 2011-2013 NASCAR Chase
The reset of the points system depended on how a driver performed in the regular season. At the start of the Chase, NASCAR would reset all Chase drivers to 2000, and, for each regular season win, they would be awarded three points. The two wild card drivers, who made it in on total wins but not points, were not given these bonus points, ensuring they would be seeds 11 and 12 every season.
For reference, the 2011 field is listed below:
Variables for 2007-2010
There were many “variables” in this system, though the key ones were the three points for winning a race, and the reduction of the points given to a driver for leading a lap and leading the most laps in a race, which dropped from five points to just one point for each achievement.
This means the maximum number of points per race was 48.
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