After a really contentious end to the 2025 season that noticed a number of common season champions fail to win the title, followers clamored for change to the format. It seems that their needs will probably be granted – a method or one other.
In accordance with NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass, NASCAR will probably be saying a brand new championship format this coming Monday. The announcement will probably be made on the NASCAR web site, TV channel and YouTube web page at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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“NASCAR will announce the championship format at 3:30p ET Monday. It should stream the announcement on its web site, YouTube web page and the NASCAR Channel,” Pockrass wrote.
Hypothesis has run rampant as to how NASCAR ought to change the format:
“full season or we riot,” wrote one other.
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“I’ll cry tears of pleasure if we get the ten race chase again,” a 3rd wrote.
“No compromises. Higher be a full season factors system.”
“I am not gonna get my hopes up, I am bracing myself for it to be underwhelming.”
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger/Cottonelle Chevrolet, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, race to the checkered flag underneath warning on the NASCAR Cup Collection sixty fifth Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on February 19, 2023 in Daytona Seaside, Florida. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs)Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
The Present Format
NASCAR’s championship format is constructed round a season-long factors system adopted by a multi-round playoff, formally often known as the NASCAR Playoffs. Throughout the common season, drivers earn factors primarily based on race finishes and stage outcomes, with race wins closely incentivized. On the finish of the common season, the highest 16 drivers in factors—prioritizing race winners—qualify for the playoffs. These drivers additionally carry “playoff factors” earned by means of wins and stage victories, which offer a bonus because the postseason begins.
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The playoffs are divided into 4 elimination rounds (Spherical of 16, Spherical of 12, Spherical of 8, and the Championship 4), with every spherical consisting of three races apart from the ultimate. After every spherical, the bottom drivers in factors are eradicated till solely 4 drivers stay. These 4 advance to a winner-take-all championship race, the place the best finisher amongst them is topped NASCAR champion, no matter season-long efficiency. The format is designed to maximise drama and late-season depth, although it stays controversial for putting vital championship weight on a single race quite than cumulative season dominance.
This story was initially printed by on Jan 8, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add The Spun as a
