Chase Returns: NASCAR Unifies Championship Format for 2026
NASCAR will bring back a Chase-style postseason in 2026 across the Cup Series, Xfinity (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series), and Craftsman Truck Series, using fixed playoff fields (Cup 16, Xfinity 12, Trucks 10) based on regular-season points, with no automatic berths for winners. A 55-point win bonus is introduced, regular-season champion gets a 25-point head start, and points are reset for the final Chase races (Cup 10, Xfinity 9, Trucks 7) to reward consistency while keeping the format simple and the finish decisive.