NASCAR has a brand new championship format for 2026, and the overwhelming response has been constructive. However what precisely has modified with this newest iteration and why is it such factor? Let’s have a look:
Wanting over the format, it’s significantly better with reference to rewarding the perfect driver throughout every specific season. The eliminations and a number of rounds/resets are utterly gone, changed by a single reset after Race #26. The 16 title finalists will then have ten races to execute higher than their rivals and accumulate probably the most factors en path to incomes the title.
This can be a large bonus. Between 2014 and 2025, drivers needed to soar by means of hoops, surviving chaotic three-race rounds solely to compete in a one-race showdown with 4 drivers tied on factors. Naturally, the motive force who dominated the 12 months usually did not win the crown, drawing the ire of NASCAR followers. Even once they have been 100% deserving, it one way or the other felt unsuitable. Final 12 months, Kyle Larson scored extra factors than a lot of the subject over the ultimate ten races, and but his title felt low cost to some because of the circumstances of that remaining race.
Extra excellent news
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
However what concerning the 2026 reset? It is not primarily based on bonus factors gathered all year long, and it is pretty easy. Whoever is main the standings on the finish of the common season might be granted 2100 factors. The driving force in second could have 2075, third could have 2065, after which it drops 5 factors per place till the final driver to make it into the postseason has 2000, and is 100 factors behind the chief. This can be a good strategy to reward probably the most constant drivers over the whole 12 months and about as shut as the game has gotten to a full-season format since 2003. It is also quite simple which is a bonus, because the complexity of earlier codecs has been a key criticism.Â
This ‘new’ format is mainly The Chase, so it makes since that NASCAR has resurrected the time period. The Chase resulted in some unbelievable battles, just like the 2011 season when Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart tied for the championship after ending 1-2 within the finale. Sport 7 moments weren’t manufactured like with the eliminations, they usually felt extra actual.
Nevertheless, the unique model of The Chase additionally featured probably the most dominant run in NASCAR historical past as Jimmie Johnson gained 5 consecutive titles from 2006 by means of 2010. However with the trendy automobile and the way shut the sphere is, I do not assume we are going to ever see a runaway efficiency like that once more.Â
One other constructive change was placing extra incentive on race wins with out making all of it concerning the playoffs. Now not will we hear ‘X driver wins the Daytona 500 — they usually’re within the playoffs!’ A win doesn’t assure you a spot, so the motive force thirty fourth in factors who wins a race cannot supplant the winless driver sitting seventh within the total standings. As a substitute, NASCAR has elevated the factors haul for race wins from 40 factors to 55. Second-place rewards 35 factors, so there’s a large 20-point hole between race wins and runner-up finishes.Â
Not solely will that incentivize drivers tempted to ‘factors race’ to race more durable for that additional spot, but it surely actually rewards these amassing probably the most checkered flags. If a driver like Shane van Gisbergen goes out and wins one other 4 street programs, he will not mechanically earn a spot in The Chase, however that is a number of additional factors that may assist him in reaching sixteenth. Now not can a driver rely solely on successful, as it’s now a part of an even bigger image. And within the postseason itself, these wins are going to be extremely worthwhile because the hole between first and second within the operating order is now the identical because the hole between second and twenty second.
The negatives
Championship 4 drivers William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos
Okay, so this all sounds nice, however the title of this story is professionals AND cons, so what are the negatives? Fortunately, there aren’t many until you have been a proponent for the full-season factors or bust crowd. A obtrusive drawback to me is the variety of drivers collaborating within the 2026 model of The Chase. 16 drivers is lots, and carving just a few off would have been higher. Nevertheless, it is comprehensible why NASCAR’s palms have been a bit tied right here with the chartered groups and their sponsors not desirous to restrict the chance to be a part of The Chase. There might be a smaller subject for the decrease divisions as 12 drivers make The Chase within the O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence and ten for the Truck Sequence.
Levels stay, as do the factors they provide, and that is not one thing I am enthusiastic about both. Ignoring the truth that we’re nonetheless artificially breaking apart races, these stage factors, particularly throughout The Chase, might be like gold. Sure, it’ll push drivers to race more durable for them which might be factor, but it surely additionally looks like it’ll have an excessive amount of of an affect on the ultimate standings with the best way this new format is structured. There are as much as 20 factors on supply by means of phases alone, and a driver ending deep within the subject may match the factors scored by somebody inserting 20 positions greater, and that appears unsuitable.
Regardless of these minor gripes, nearly all of these adjustments are incredible for including legitimacy again to the NASCAR championship, and calming frustrations born from current years. Final 12 months, we have been all holding our breath hoping the ‘proper’ driver prevailed all through championship weekend, and that is not how a champion needs to be determined. There might be a shock with this format with drivers getting scorching on the proper time, however definitely no flukes. Profitable will matter fairly a bit, however consistency and efficiency over the whole season might be paramount, correctly.
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