Chase Elliott has expressed strong support for NASCAR’s decision to reintroduce The Chase format as its championship structure starting with the 2026 season, sharing his optimism about the move during a recent press conference. This key update re-establishes a style of championship racing that Elliott and many drivers remember from the era of heated playoff battles, putting Chase Elliott on NASCAR Chase firmly in the spotlight again.
Elliott Reflects on The Chase’s Competitive Past
The return to The Chase format marks a significant change in NASCAR’s approach, and Elliott, a lifelong fan and current Cup driver, has openly embraced the shift. He highlighted the enthusiasm that both fans and those within the sport had during the prior implementation of The Chase from 2004 to 2013, emphasizing its role in creating memorable and dramatic racing moments.
“I think we all want it to be better because, to Dale [Earnhardt Jr.]’s point, we are fans of this sport,”
Chase Elliott said to a group of reporters during a press conference.
Elliott reminisced about the earlier era, focusing on the excitement and close competition that defined those playoff years. He noted how easy it is to overlook the quality of competition from that period, suggesting that the reintroduction is a well-considered change for fans and participants alike.
“We often times forget just how good we had it through those years of ‘The Chase’ format,”
he said,
“and I really do think it is a really nice compromise.”
“I think getting a full season was going to be a really big challenge. I’m not sure if there’s really a better place to land than a true 10-race chase, really similar to what we had through those years of the epic battles that we saw.”
Key Changes Under the New Chase Format
The Chase format returning in 2026 will impact how drivers compete for the Cup Series title. The last ten races of the season will operate as the playoffs, featuring the 16 drivers with the highest point totals at the end of the regular season. Notably, the leading competitor will start with a 25-point advantage over the second-placed driver, reflecting a renewed focus on consistency across the entire year.
Unlike the previous system, where a single race victory in the regular season guaranteed a playoff berth, The Chase removes automatic qualification based on wins. Now, season-long performance will be the gateway to playoff contention, aiming to spotlight the most consistently successful drivers throughout the NASCAR Cup Series calendar.
“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,”
NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell said in a press release.
“At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special. Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.”
– Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR president
What This Means for Drivers Like Elliott and the Broader NASCAR Community
For Chase Elliott and his fellow competitors, the stage is set for a return to fiercely contested and widely debated championship showdowns. Elliott himself has an impressive record under NASCAR’s championship systems—capturing the Cup Series title in 2020 and securing the regular season crown in 2022. In the most recent season, he notched two race wins and finished eighth overall, reinforcing his steady presence as a championship contender.
This change is expected to reignite fan engagement and intensify the competitive spirit of the NASCAR Cup Series, bringing renewed significance to every race in the regular season and The Chase. As anticipation builds toward 2026, both drivers and fans are looking forward to a format that demands consistency, rewards resilience, and reintroduces the thrilling stretch run that became synonymous with NASCAR’s playoff history.
