2026 NASCAR Chase Format Explained: How the New Playoffs Work

After more than a decade of NASCAR’s “win and you’re in” knockout-style playoff format, we are officially re-entering the Chase era. That means the term NASCAR Playoffs is no longer technically correct, as the postseason is once again known simply as The Chase.

After a competitive 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season that saw Denny Hamlin take home the Regular Season Championship, we’re heading into the final stretch of the season: The Chase. It kicks off on September 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 and concludes with the championship race on November 8.

But how does NASCAR’s new Chase format work? And what really changes with the new format? Here’s everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series Chase right here, from how drivers qualify and how points carry over to which 2026 drivers made the cut.

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What Were the NASCAR Playoffs?

The NASCAR Playoffs were the elimination-style postseason format used by all three NASCAR series from 2014 through 2025. Under that format, 16 drivers qualified based on regular season wins and points, then competed across three elimination rounds for a spot in the championship race.

Before the elimination format was introduced in 2014, NASCAR used a season-ending points competition known as The Chase for the Cup. In 2026, the Cup Series is returning to a similar Chase format.

Where Can I Watch The Chase?

In 2026, fans can watch all 10 Chase races live on USA Network or NBC, with every race also streaming on HBO Max. See the full race schedule below.

With DIRECTV, you can access USA Network, NBC and HBO Max all in one place. In fact, HBO Max is included at no extra cost in select TV plans.

NASCAR Cup Series The Chase Overview

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase:

How Drivers Qualify

• The top 16 drivers in the Cup Series advance to The Chase — the same number of drivers that qualified for the playoffs.
• Instead of the former “win and you’re in” approach, the top 16 drivers in the regular-season standings qualify for The Chase, regardless of whether they won a race. This change gives more weight to drivers who may not win a race but perform consistently throughout the season.

The Chase Format

• The Chase consists of 10 postseason races. Under the previous format, the first nine playoff races were divided into three rounds.
• There are no eliminations during The Chase. This is one of the biggest shifts from the prior format, where the four lowest-ranked drivers were eliminated at the end of the first three rounds of the playoffs.
• Once points are reset following the regular season, there are no additional resets during The Chase. This is another change, as the previous format had points reset at the beginning of a new round.
• The driver who sits atop the points standings after the 10-race postseason is crowned champion, replacing the winner-take-all championship race used under the previous format.

New Points Structure

• During The Chase, wins are now worth 55 points, up from 40 points previously.
• A driver’s finishing position determines how many points are added to their postseason total: 35 points for second place, 34 for third, 33 for fourth and so on.
• Stage points remain the same: 10 for first, nine for second, eight for third, etc.
• Previously banked regular-season points do not carry over into The Chase.

The Chase Reseeding Format

• The qualifying drivers are reseeded at the start of The Chase to reflect their final regular-season standings.
• Each driver is reset at 2,000 points, with additional points allocated based on their regular-season finish. The gap between the first and second seeds is 25 points, followed by a 10-point gap between second and third. Each remaining seed is separated by five points.
• Reseeded Cup Series points: 1st: 2,100 · 2nd: 2,075 · 3rd: 2,065 · 4th: 2,060 · 5th: 2,055 · 6th: 2,050 · 7th: 2,045 · 8th: 2,040 · 9th: 2,035 · 10th: 2,030 · 11th: 2,025 · 12th: 2,020 · 13th: 2,015 · 14th: 2,010 · 15th: 2,005 · 16th: 2,000.

2026 NASCAR Chase Schedule

The 10-race Chase begins with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6 and concludes with the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8.

The first seven races air on USA Network, and the final three — Talladega, Martinsville and Homestead-Miami — air on NBC. Streaming on HBO Max is also available for every race.

Here’s the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase schedule:

2026 NASCAR Schedule Changes

In addition to all of the format changes, the races included in The Chase are changing from previous years, too:

• The New Hampshire race returns to the regular season, while Homestead-Miami rejoins The Chase.
• The Charlotte Motor Speedway race moves from the Roval back to the oval for the first time since 2017.
• Homestead-Miami hosts the championship finale for the first time since 2019, replacing Phoenix Raceway, the championship host since 2020.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Field

Here is the official Cup Series Chase field for the 2026 NASCAR season.

Keep up with the latest changes with our NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings.

Why Is NASCAR Going Back to The Chase?

According to NASCAR, the playoff format that was utilized from 2014 to 2025 was implemented to make NASCAR’s mid-season races more competitive, as well as to increase fan excitement and viewership numbers.

The results were mixed, with fan feedback skewing negative. Some of the biggest concerns were around the format creating too much opportunity for luck, allowing lower-performing drivers to win the championship over competitors who had delivered more consistent seasons.

After years of consideration, the league has heard fan and driver feedback and is returning to a format that rewards consistency while still maintaining the importance of winning.

How The Chase Impacts Other Series

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series are also transitioning to The Chase in 2026, but the format differs slightly for each series:

• O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: 12 drivers qualify; 9 Chase races
• Craftsman Truck Series: 10 drivers qualify; 7 Chase races.

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