The 2026 NASCAR playoffs look different this year. NASCAR retired the elimination bracket, the Round of 16, 12, and 8 and the winner-take-all Championship 4, and brought back the original points-based Chase. Sixteen drivers reset their points and race a 10-race Chase, and the driver with the most points after the November 8 finale at Homestead-Miami is the champion. Download our free printable Chase standings tracker below to follow the title race.
2026 NASCAR Playoffs: Quick Facts
- What changed for 2026? NASCAR dropped the elimination bracket and Championship 4 and returned to a points-based Chase.
- How many drivers make it? Sixteen drivers make the Cup playoffs, set by points after the regular season.
- How is the champion decided? By points over the 10-race Chase. The most points after the finale wins, with no winner-take-all final race.
- How do points reset? The regular-season champion resets to 2,100 points, down to 2,000 for the 16th seed. A win is now worth 55 points.
- When and where is the finale? The Chase opens September 6 at Darlington and ends November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
How the 2026 NASCAR Playoff Format Works
For 2026 NASCAR returned to the Chase format it used from 2004 to 2013. There are no elimination rounds and no Championship 4. The 16 playoff drivers reset their points at the start of the Chase, from 2,100 for the regular-season champion down to 2,000 for the 16th seed, and then race the final 10 events. Points are scored every race, a win is worth 55 points, and the old playoff-point bonuses are gone. Whoever has the most points after the Homestead finale is the Cup Series champion. That rewards season-long consistency rather than one big race, which is the biggest change from the knockout format fans have watched for the past decade.
2026 NASCAR Cup Chase Schedule (10 Races)
| Chase Race | Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | Sun, Sep 6 |
| 2 | Enjoy Illinois 300 | World Wide Technology Raceway | Sun, Sep 13 |
| 3 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | Sat, Sep 19 |
| 4 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | Sun, Sep 27 |
| 5 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Sun, Oct 4 |
| 6 | Bank of America 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Sun, Oct 11 |
| 7 | Freeway Insurance 500 | Phoenix Raceway | Sun, Oct 18 |
| 8 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | Sun, Oct 25 |
| 9 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | Sun, Nov 1 |
| 10 | Cup Series Championship Race | Homestead-Miami Speedway | Sun, Nov 8 |
Printable Chase Standings Tracker
Because the champion is now decided on points, our free printable is a standings tracker rather than a bracket. Write in the 16 playoff drivers and their reset points once the field locks at Daytona, then fill in the points each driver scores across all 10 Chase races and keep a running total. It works as a wall or binder tracker for the whole postseason, and the driver on top after Homestead is your champion.
More 2026 NASCAR
- 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule (Printable PDF)
- 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly and Truck Playoff Chase Trackers
- 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge Bracket
- 2026 Sports Calendar
2026 NASCAR Playoffs FAQ
Did the 2026 NASCAR playoff format change? Yes. NASCAR retired the elimination bracket, the Round of 16, 12, and 8 and the Championship 4, and returned to a points-based Chase for 2026. The most points after the 10-race Chase wins the title.
How many drivers make the 2026 NASCAR playoffs? Sixteen drivers make the Cup Series playoffs, set by points at the end of the regular season.
How is the 2026 NASCAR champion decided? By points over the 10-race Chase. Playoff drivers reset from 2,100 points down to 2,000 for the 16th seed, and the driver with the most points after the Homestead finale is champion. There is no winner-take-all Championship 4 race.
Is there still a Championship 4 in 2026? No. The 2026 format dropped the Championship 4 and the round-by-round eliminations in favor of the season-long points Chase.
When do the 2026 NASCAR playoffs start and end? The Chase opens September 6 with the Southern 500 at Darlington and ends November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
