NASCAR championship format changes

NASCAR has implemented a new championship format following advocacy from Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin. Martin, supported by Dale Earnhardt Jr., argued that the previous elimination-style playoffs should be replaced with a system that better rewards consistency over a full season.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship postseason, known as ‘The Chase’, has commenced at Darlington Raceway with the Southern 500. This version of the format features 16 drivers competing over a 10-race mini-season and notably contains no cutlines, ensuring that every position in every race impacts the final standings. Drivers such as Chase Elliott have praised the change, stating it feels “more authentic to the sport’s identity”.

Denny Hamlin enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed after winning the regular season championship. 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 errors.

Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney faces early setbacks; his No. 12 Team Penske Ford failed technical inspection twice, leading to the ejection of car chief Raymond Fox and the loss of pit stall selection. Due to weather-related cancellations of practice and qualifying, Blaney is set to start from the 24th position. To address previous pit road issues, Team Penske recently swapped Blaney’s pit crew with Austin Cindric’s crew. The 2026 Chase is scheduled to conclude at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8.

Alongside these structural changes, NASCAR continues its ‘Swear Jar’ fan engagement campaign, a contest where fans can win money by predicting the frequency of profanity used by drivers and crew members over the radio.