On Monday afternoon, NASCAR announced the return of “The Chase”, a postseason format used in varying iterations from 2004-2013. The 2026 Cup Series season<\/a> will feature\u00a0a 10-race postseason, beginning at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6, consisting of 16 drivers with just one points reset coming at the end of the regular season. All drivers who qualify for The Chase will remain in the postseason with points accumulating over the final 10 races to declare a champion. The move is a departure from the playoff format instituted in 2014 that included rounds of three races and elimination cutoffs, leading to a winner-take-all championship race.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gone too is the “win-and-you’re-in” rule, in which any driver who won a regular season race automatically qualified for the postseason. While victories will no longer come with an entry to The Chase, drivers will now score 55 points for a win instead of 40.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,\u201d said Steve O\u2019Donnell, NASCAR President. \u201cAt the same time, we want to honor NASCAR\u2019s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special.\u00a0Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: Check out all of Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 paint schemes!<\/a><\/p>\n The points leader after 26 races will be rewarded with a 25-point buffer over the field after the reset.\u00a0The Chase will be seeded as follows:\u00a0<\/p>\n First place:\u00a02,100Second place:\u00a02,075Third place:\u00a02,065Fourth place:\u00a02,060Fifth place:\u00a02,055Sixth place:\u00a02,050Seventh place:\u00a02,045Eighth place:\u00a02,040Ninth place:\u00a02,03510th place:\u00a02,03011th place:\u00a02,02512th place:\u00a02,02013th place:\u00a02,01514th place:\u00a02,01015th place:\u00a02,00516th place:\u00a02,000<\/p>\n RELATED: Check out some rarely seen photos from the “Days of Thunder”\u00a0movie shoot!<\/a><\/p>\n How many races are in The Chase?<\/p>\n The Chase will consist of 10 races in the Cup\u00a0Series<\/a>, nine in the NOAPS and seven in the Truck Series.\u00a0<\/p>\n How many drivers will make The Chase?\u00a0<\/p>\n The Chase will consist of 16 drivers in the Cup Series, 12 in the NOAPS and 10 in the Truck Series.<\/p>\n When does The Chase start?\u00a0<\/p>\n The first race of the Cup Series postseason will be held at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n What races are in The Chase?\u00a0<\/p>\n The 10 races in the Cup Series Chase include stops at:\u00a0Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Charlotte ROVAL, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026 NASCAR Cup\u00a0Series schedule![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/jimmie-13.jpg\"\/)
Jimmie Johnson won six of his seven NASCAR Cup Series championships under some variation of, “The Chase”. On Monday, NASCAR announced it was returning to the format for the 2026 postseason.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/jimmie-chase_260112_115307.jpg\"\/)
Jimmie Johnson won the 2006 NASCAR Cup Series championship under, “The Chase” format, the first of his seven titles.<\/p>\n
\nSunday, Feb. 1:\u00a0The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, 8 p.m. (FOX)
\nThursday, Feb. 12:\u00a0The Duel at Daytona, 7 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, Feb. 15:\u00a0DAYTONA 500<\/a>, 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
\nSunday, Feb. 22:\u00a0Atlanta Motor\u00a0Speedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
\nSunday, March 1:\u00a0Circuit of the Americas, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
\nSunday, March 8:\u00a0Phoenix Raceway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, March 15:\u00a0Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 4 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, March 22:\u00a0Darlington Raceway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, March 29:\u00a0Martinsville Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, April 12:\u00a0Bristol\u00a0Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, April 19:\u00a0Kansas Speedway, 2 p.m. (FOX)
\nSunday, April 26:\u00a0Talladega Superspeedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
\nSunday, May 3:\u00a0Texas Motor Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
\nSunday, May 10:\u00a0Watkins Glen International, 3 p.m. (FS1)
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