NASCAR informed team executives that most likely outcome is retaining a playoff in 2026, per report

While a final decision has yet to be made, NASCAR appears to be leaning towards retaining a playoff in 2026. Per a report from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, the sanctioning body informed team executives during a meeting before the championship race at Phoenix Raceway that a “playoff with revisions” is the most likely outcome.

Other plans are still being studied, Stern noted, such as a return to the full-season points format. Stern’s report comes after Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of racing communications, said on Tuesday’s “Hauler Talk” that discussions are still taking place within NASCAR concerning the future of the championship format. Forde said an announcement as to which format NASCAR uses to determine a champion in 2026 and beyond could come in “two weeks, it could be in two months.” All of it is still to be determined.

“They’re going to take all the feedback they got from every walk of life and every thought on the spectrum from no playoffs whatsoever to keeping it how it is and really beating that all up. They’re announcements to come,” Forde said. “Honestly, I don’t know where it is. It could be in two weeks, it could be in two months. We clearly want to make sure that we have been very thorough on this one.

“Obviously, it will be before Feb. 5 in The Clash, but it could be sooner than later, it could be in January. I don’t know, I don’t think anyone knows just yet. Still discussions to be had on where we are on discussion of the playoff format. I think we feel good about the directions and the possibilities here because of the playoff committee and the work that they’ve done and the feedback we got from the industry.”

NASCAR championship format could look different in 2026

NASCAR introduced the current elimination style format in 2014. The 10-race postseason is capped off by a one-race, winner-take-all finale where the highest finisher of the Championship 4 drivers is crowned champion.

NASCAR put together a playoff committee consisting of former drivers, media partners, team owners, manufacturers, track representatives and independent media to determine if the format should change in 2026. Some have argued for a return to the full-season points format, while others are in favor of a revamped 10-race Chase.

An official decision will certainly come before the new season starts in early February, as Forde mentioned. Whichever format wins out, some will be happy, some won’t.