2026 format update: NASCAR brought back the Chase for 2026 and removed all eliminations and cutoffs. The championship is now decided by the most points over the final 10 races, so no drivers are eliminated during the playoffs and there is no cut line. See our full 2026 NASCAR Chase format explainer. Any round, bracket, or cut-line details below reflect the retired 2017-2025 elimination format and are kept for reference.
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 is the 16-driver field set? After the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
- 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.
How the Final Playoff Spots Were Decided at Daytona
The 2026 regular season ended Saturday, August 29 at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, the 26th and final race before the field was set. Under the returning Chase format, the 16 drivers who make the 2026 NASCAR playoffs are simply the top 16 in regular season points, so a win alone did not guarantee anyone a spot. Daytona was the last chance for a driver below the cutline to race his way in.
That is exactly what happened. Ryan Preece came into the night 17th in points and 31 points behind Shane van Gisbergen for the final position. Preece was caught up in a Stage 1 crash with Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson, repaired the damage, finished second in Stage 2, then stretched fuel and won the race in overtime to move ahead of van Gisbergen by 17 points.
The two other spots still open entering Daytona went to Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric. Wallace clinched early by scoring four points in the opening stage and finished 20th. Cindric came home sixth and locked up the 15th seed by nine points over Preece. Denny Hamlin had already clinched the regular season title and the No. 1 seed the previous Sunday at New Hampshire, and Ryan Blaney held the second seed despite finishing 33rd after a final lap wreck.
The 2026 NASCAR Chase Field Is Set: All 16 Drivers and Reset Seeding Points
The field for the 2026 NASCAR playoffs locked in at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Ryan Preece won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in overtime for his first career Cup Series points win, taking the final spot by 17 points over Shane van Gisbergen, who had led him by 31 points entering the race. Daniel Suárez finished second. Denny Hamlin is the regular season champion and opens the 10 race Chase as the No. 1 seed with 2,100 points. Second place resets to 2,075, third place to 2,065, and every position after that is separated by five points down to 2,000 for the 16th seed.
| Pos | Driver | Points behind | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | Leader | Advancing |
| 2 | Kyle Larson | -9 | Won Gateway – locked |
| 3 | Christopher Bell | -18 | Advancing |
| 4 | Ryan Blaney | -33 | Advancing |
| 5 | Tyler Reddick | -42 | Advancing |
| 6 | Ty Gibbs | -51 | Advancing |
| 7 | Joey Logano | -51 | Advancing |
| 8 | Chase Briscoe | -59 | Advancing |
| 9 | Carson Hocevar | -88 | Advancing |
| 10 | Bubba Wallace | -90 | Advancing |
| 11 | Chase Elliott | -93 | Advancing |
| 12 | Austin Cindric | -108 | Final spot (+3) |
| Cut line – top 12 advance after Bristol | |||
| 13 | Chris Buescher | -111 | Below the cut |
| 14 | Ryan Preece | -113 | Below the cut |
| 15 | William Byron | -114 | Below the cut |
| 16 | Daniel Suarez | -119 | Below the cut |
Round of 16 standings updated after Gateway (Sep 13), entering the Bristol cutoff Sep 19. Source: NASCAR Chase Report. Subject to change.
Shane van Gisbergen was the driver left out. He won Stage 1, but pitted for fuel and tires on Lap 157, restarted 27th in overtime and was collected in the last lap wreck, finishing 28th. Brad Keselowski, the only other driver still mathematically alive entering Daytona, was eliminated during the race. The Chase opens Sunday, September 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
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 the regular-season finale at Daytona on Saturday, August 29, 2026, 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.
When is the 2026 NASCAR playoff field set? The 16-driver field locks after the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Race winners inside the top 30 in points earn automatic spots, and any remaining places go to the highest drivers in season points.
