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NASCAR Brings Back 10-Race 'Chase' for 2026, Ending Eliminations and Win-and-In

NASCAR says the overhaul rewards season-long performance following an extensive review.

Overview

  • The postseason field will be the top 16 in points after 26 races, with race wins no longer guaranteeing a berth.
  • The title will go to the driver with the most points across the 10 Chase races, with the finale set for Nov. 8 at Homestead-Miami.
  • A race victory now pays 55 points while all other per-position and stage points stay the same, and the old playoff points system is scrapped.
  • Chase seeding resets the qualifiers from 2,100 for the regular-season leader to 2,000 for 16th, giving the top seed a 25-point edge over second.
  • NASCAR will apply similar Chase structures to its O’Reilly and Truck series, a change presented as industry- and fan-driven.