CONCORD, N.C. - Sometimes to move forward, you have to go back.
NASCAR is doing just that ahead of the 2026 season in the Cup Series, O'Reilly Series (NOAPS) and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
On Monday afternoon, NASCAR announced the return of "The Chase", a postseason format used in varying iterations from 2004-2013. The 2026 Cup Series season will feature a 10-race postseason, beginning at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6, consisting of 16 drivers with just one points reset coming at the end of the regular season. All drivers who qualify for The Chase will remain in the postseason with points accumulating over the final 10 races to declare a champion. The move is a departure from the playoff format instituted in 2014 that included rounds of three races and elimination cutoffs, leading to a winner-take-all championship race.
Gone too is the "win-and-you're-in" rule, in which any driver who won a regular season race automatically qualified for the postseason. While victories will no longer come with an entry to The Chase, drivers will now score 55 points for a win instead of 40.
“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR President. “At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special. Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.”
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The points leader after 26 races will be rewarded with a 25-point buffer over the field after the reset. The Chase will be seeded as follows:
- First place: 2,100
- Second place: 2,075
- Third place: 2,065
- Fourth place: 2,060
- Fifth place: 2,055
- Sixth place: 2,050
- Seventh place: 2,045
- Eighth place: 2,040
- Ninth place: 2,035
- 10th place: 2,030
- 11th place: 2,025
- 12th place: 2,020
- 13th place: 2,015
- 14th place: 2,010
- 15th place: 2,005
- 16th place: 2,000
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How many races are in The Chase?
The Chase will consist of 10 races in the Cup Series, nine in the NOAPS and seven in the Truck Series.
How many drivers will make The Chase?
The Chase will consist of 16 drivers in the Cup Series, 12 in the NOAPS and 10 in the Truck Series.
When does The Chase start?
The first race of the Cup Series postseason will be held at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6.
What races are in The Chase?
The 10 races in the Cup Series Chase include stops at: Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Charlotte ROVAL, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule
- Sunday, Feb. 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, 8 p.m. (FOX)
- Thursday, Feb. 12: The Duel at Daytona, 7 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, Feb. 15: DAYTONA 500, 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
- Sunday, Feb. 22: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
- Sunday, March 1: Circuit of the Americas, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
- Sunday, March 8: Phoenix Raceway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, March 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 4 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, March 22: Darlington Raceway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, March 29: Martinsville Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, April 12: Bristol Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, April 19: Kansas Speedway, 2 p.m. (FOX)
- Sunday, April 26: Talladega Superspeedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
- Sunday, May 3: Texas Motor Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, May 10: Watkins Glen International, 3 p.m. (FS1)
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- Sunday, May 17: All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
- Sunday, May 24: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 6 p.m. (Prime)
- Sunday, May 31: Nashville Superspeedway, 7 p.m. (Prime)
- Sunday, June 7: Michigan International Speedway, 3 p.m. (Prime)
- Sunday, June 14: Pocono Raceway, 3 p.m. (Prime)
- Sunday, June 21: Naval Base Coronado, 4 p.m. (Prime)
- Sunday, June 28: Sonoma Raceway, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Sunday, July 5: Chicagoland Speedway, 6 p.m. (TNT)
- Sunday, July 12: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 7 p.m. (TNT)
- Sunday, July 19: North Wilkesboro Speedway, 7 p.m. (TNT)
- Sunday, July 26: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2 p.m. (TNT)
- Sunday, Aug. 9: Iowa Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (USA Network)
- Saturday, Aug. 15: Richmond Raceway, 7 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Aug. 23: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
- Saturday, Aug. 29: Daytona International Speedway, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
The Chase
- Sunday, Sept. 6: Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, 5 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Sept. 13: World Wide Technology Raceway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
- Saturday, Sept. 19: Bristol Motor Speedway, 7:30 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Kansas Speedway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Oct. 4: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 5:30 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Oct. 11: Charlotte ROVAL, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Oct. 18: Phoenix Raceway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
- Sunday, Oct. 25: Talladega Superspeedway, 2 p.m. (NBC)
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Martinsville Speedway, 2 p.m. (NBC)
- Sunday, Nov. 8: Homestead-Miami Speedway, 3 p.m. (NBC)