Shane van Gisbergen has shared his mixed feelings about the removal of the playoffs format in NASCAR.
NASCAR confirmed the changes ahead of the 2026 season. Instead of the win-and-you’re-in and elimination style of the playoffs, the chase format will see the top-16 drivers in the Cup Series, top-12 in O’Reilly and top-10 in the Truck Series go through to The Chase based on their regular season points. Points will be reset for The Chase and the driver with the most points at the end wins.
Van Gisbergen secured his spot in the 2025 playoffs after winning four of the five street circuits, which has led to mixed feelings about the change for the upcoming season.
“I think it kind of needed a change,” the New Zealander told the Performance Racing Network. “But it’s hard for me. The reason I’m in the series is because of win-and-you’re-in, right? But I feel like I’ve gotten better on ovals to where I don’t have to rely on it.
“It’s certainly going to be an achievement to make that top 16, but I think it’s a good target for us and something that is achievable. I think it rewards those top guys now that are always winning, and they were the guys calling for it I guess.
“For me, that’s more of a pure racing championship. It’s probably a good thing, in that regard.”
The 36-year-old driver added: “Just the knowledge. I’m going to all these places for the second, third, fourth time.
“I felt so much more comfortable at the end of last year and I think I read that we would have been near the top 16 or right in it.
“We were 35th or 58th or something in points halfway through the year it felt like. We had a really bad start to the year and still made it.
“Maybe we can do the same this year. It would be really cool to start a lot stronger.”
The NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Clash is scheduled for 1 February 2026, although practice and qualifying are now expected to take place on the same day due to snowfall in the area. The first-paying race of the season, the Daytona 500, is set for 16 February.