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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after finish first of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
It was announced on Thursday that NASCAR<\/a> is holding a press conference on Monday, Jan. 12 to announce the newest format changes to win a NASCAR Championship. As expected, there has been much speculation about what changes will be announced.<\/p>\n The latest format had a \u201cwin and you\u2019re in\u201d base to make up the field of 16 eligible drivers. From there, drivers were eliminated after three-race segments to decide the remaining four to win the championship via the best finisher in the finale.<\/p>\n Fans have been clamoring for consistency to be rewarded. And, it looks like they might be getting that wish.<\/p>\n Heavy.com has spoken with industry insiders to get a clearer picture of the new format possibilities. All asked not to be quoted because of the sensitive nature regarding the announcement.<\/p>\n Win and You\u2019re In is OUT<\/p>\n The days of winning one race to qualify for Championship eligibility will be no longer. That means, Austin Dillon<\/a> would not make the Playoffs based off a single win like he did last year. He was ranked 25th in points at the time of his victory at Richmond Raceway.<\/p>\n On the other hand, a five-time winner like Shane van Gisbergen<\/a> also would not make the playoffs as he was 24th when it started at Darlington Raceway last season.<\/p>\n The Call for Consistency is Here<\/p>\n The most common aspect heard about the new format is drivers and teams will be rewarded a place in the Playoffs based on their results in the first 26 races. The 10-race Championship field could remain at the current status of 16 drivers. This year, they will each earn their way in via points positions after the 26th race no matter how many times they\u2019ve won, or haven\u2019t won.<\/p>\n One of the biggest detractors about the former format was drivers and teams weren\u2019t rewarded for consistency. In NASCAR, it\u2019s all about winning while also being consistent to earn as many points as possible during the 36-race season.<\/p>\n With that said, Chris Buescher would have made the Playoffs last year but was shut out by the one-race winners like Dillon, Austin Cindric and Josh Berry.<\/p>\n The 2026 NASCAR Champions will be decided amongst the 16 drivers with no eliminations through the final 10 races. That means if a driver starts out slow in the beginning of those final races, he has a chance to rally back through the latter portion. Likewise, if a driver starts out strong, he will fall back through the Playoffs.<\/p>\n Four to Race through Three<\/p>\n One scenario getting some traction has the 16-car Playoff field still in place with eliminations still happening. However, instead of four drivers racing it out in one race to decide a champion, the final two or three races would come into play.<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin was handily enroute to his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix<\/a> Raceway last season. A caution with two laps remaining set up a green\/white\/checkers finish and left the leaders deciding to pit for two or four tires.<\/p>\n Hamlin didn\u2019t, Kyle Larson did for two and took the crown in those final laps.<\/p>\n A new format would have the four drivers racing for the championship through the final three races. This would reward a smaller aspect of consistency as the best finishes of the four would be the deciding factor.<\/p>\n Making Everyone Happy is Impossible<\/p>\n No matter what is announced on Monday, 1\/12 there will be those who like, dislike and absolutely hate whatever changes are made. The NASCAR fanbase is a vocal and passionate one, for sure.<\/p>\n Either way, NASCAR is to be applauded for wanting to make changes to the Playoff format instead of keeping status quo. Coming off the anti-trust lawsuit situation, maintaining and earning back the fan base\u2019s trust is paramount.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTim Packman<\/a> Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.
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\nTim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.
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\nThe announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.
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\nFrom 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
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\nUpon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.
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\nTim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”
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\nHe also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n