NASCAR begins revamped ‘Chase’ postseason at Darlington

NASCAR has launched its revamped 10-race postseason format, known as ‘The Chase,’ beginning with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The new system features 16 drivers and moves away from the previous elimination-style playoffs to a format where the driver with the most points at the end of the season wins the title. Drivers like Chase Elliott have praised the change for feeling more authentic to the sport’s identity.

As the postseason begins, championship contender Ryan Blaney faces significant setbacks. His Team Penske No. 12 Ford failed technical inspection twice at Darlington, resulting in the ejection of car chief Raymond Fox and the loss of pit stall selection. Additionally, weather conditions canceled qualifying, forcing Blaney to start from 24th based on performance metrics. To address poor pit road performance earlier in the season, Team Penske also swapped Blaney’s pit crew with Austin Cindric’s crew.

Denny Hamlin enters the Chase as the No. 1 seed and a heavy favorite. Following a narrow loss to Kyle Larson in the 2025 championship, Hamlin has emphasized the need for extreme attention to detail, implementing an ‘airplane protocol’ of triple-checking all procedures to avoid costly errors. The 2026 Chase will conclude with the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8.