NASCAR insider Kelly Crandall lately answered one among inventory automobile racing followers’ queries concerning the playoff construction. She shared an X submit discussing when the governing physique can announce the revised playoff format for the 2026 season.
The present playoff system options three elimination rounds earlier than heading to the championship race. Every spherical includes three races and eliminates the 4 lowest-scoring drivers from competition. Solely 4 drivers stay to compete within the one-race championship decider. The governing physique launched this format in 2014 and has been following it for the previous decade.
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Nevertheless, since 2024, followers have been criticizing this format and asking NASCAR to vary it for the subsequent season. Following that, the governing physique fashioned a committee to handle the scenario. However there isn’t any affirmation concerning the change or any date for the choice to be made public.
Reflecting on that, Kelly Crandall shared her prediction by way of an X submit and wrote:
“My expectation is that it will be throughout the pre-season media guidelines briefing someday this month, which is usually center to later within the month. Until they select to do it as a separate announcement, which theoretically may come at any time.”
In November 2025, on the Hauler Discuss podcast, NASCAR managing director Mike Forde acknowledged, “he feels good concerning the route and prospects” of the format change. He concluded that the choice might be out in two days, weeks, or months.
NASCAR unveiled the 2026 Cup Sequence season calendar
In November 2025, NASCAR revealed the full-time calendar for the upcoming 2026 Cup Sequence season. The governing physique has made some tweaks to the schedule and added two extra races to the season. Additionally, the sanctioning physique modified the venue of the Championship 4 race from Phoenix Raceway to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The Athletic was the primary to launch the 2026 full-time schedule. This is the listing of all of the occasions:
- Feb. 1: Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium
- Feb. 15: Daytona 500
- Feb. 22: Atlanta (EchoPark)
- Mar. 1: Circuit of the Americas
- Mar. 8: Phoenix
- Mar. 15: Las Vegas
- Mar. 22: Darlington
- Mar. 29: Martinsville
- Apr. 5: Off (Easter)
- Apr. 12: Bristol
- Apr. 19: Kansas
- Apr. 26: Talladega
- Might 3: Texas
- Might 10: Watkins Glen
- Might 17: All-Star Race (Dover)
- Might 24: Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
- Might 31: Nashville
- Jun. 7: Michigan
- Jun. 14: Pocono
- Jun. 21: San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
- Jun. 28: Sonoma
- Jul. 5: Chicagoland
- Jul. 12: Atlanta (EchoPark)
- Jul. 19: North Wilkesboro
- Jul. 26: Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
- Aug. 2: Off weekend
- Aug. 9: Iowa
- Aug. 15: Richmond
- Aug. 23: New Hampshire
- Aug. 29: Daytona (regular-season finale)
- Sept. 6: Darlington (playoff opener)
- Sept. 13: Gateway
- Sept. 19: Bristol (Spherical 1 elimination)
- Sept. 27: Kansas
- Oct. 4: Las Vegas
- Oct. 11: Charlotte Roval (Spherical 2 elimination)
- Oct. 18: Phoenix
- Oct. 25: Talladega
- Nov. 1: Martinsville (Spherical 3 elimination)
- Nov. 8: Homestead (Championship Race)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clinched his second Cup Sequence championship title within the 2025 season. Larson gained a lead over the race-dominating driver Denny Hamlin after the ultimate pit cease. Larson completed three spots forward of Hamlin in P3 and gained the championship title.
Edited by Karan Yadav
