Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and current driver for Richard Childress Racing, has voiced his critical perspective on NASCAR’s recent decision to reinstate the Chase points format starting with the 2026 season. One of the sport’s most recognized figures, Busch questioned the reasoning behind moving back to the Chase, stating doubts about how the system might impact drivers’ championship chances, thus igniting a focal point of debate within the NASCAR community around the return of the controversial playoff system.
Bush Reflects on Past Concerns With The Chase System
After the 2013 season, NASCAR retired the original Chase points format and introduced the 16-driver elimination grid, designed to intensify competition over the final ten races. This format narrowed the playoff field by eliminating several drivers at three-race intervals, and was a reaction to issues the sport faced under The Chase, such as dominance by a single competitor and championship hopes dashed by one bad race.
In a candid interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Busch expressed his uncertainty toward NASCAR returning to a format that was originally abandoned for several significant reasons. He stated,
“I thought we got away from it for a reason in the past, so I’m not real sure why we went back to it. The reason why we sorta went away from it was obviously Jimmie Johnson’s dominance, number one. I feel like, number two, is there were times where guys, like myself, who would have one bad race or two that would then knock them out of the championship basically.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series champion
Busch elaborated that the Chase system allows for an unpredictable outcome, especially for drivers who suffer a single poor finish in the crucial 10-race stretch. He also suggested that with the aggressive racing style that predominates today’s Cup Series, the new-old format may introduce further unpredictability.
According to Busch,
“You might see everybody, all 16 of us, have a bad race. If all of us have a bad race, then that can just be construed as your throw-away, and you’ve got to be good in the other nine [races].”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series champion
Busch Critiques the Impact of Race Wins in the Chase Format
When questioned whether winning a race during The Chase would be enough to recover from a poor result elsewhere, Busch emphasized the continued disparity among teams. With a maximum of 76 points available in each Chase race, he explained that only a select group of elite teams consistently has the advantage.
He told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio,
“If you’re a winner. If you’re a Hendrick car, a Gibbs car, or a Penske car, yeah. Name me another team that wins races that’s outside of those guys.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series champion
Busch, who last secured a Cup Series victory in June 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway, has experienced firsthand how the playoff and Chase systems can impact championship runs, having missed out on the postseason cut in both of the two most recent years.
NASCAR Announces the Return of The Chase for 2026
After twelve seasons using the elimination format, NASCAR revealed that it will return to the traditional ten-race Chase starting in 2026. In this system, the sixteen drivers with the highest point totals over the regular season’s first 26 events are eligible to compete for the Cup. The championship will ultimately be decided by cumulative points earned over the final ten races, and point totals will be reset before The Chase—with a 25-point gap between each contender’s starting score.
This shift has sparked discussions throughout the NASCAR community regarding the fairness of the old format and the heightened risk that a single incident or bad result could erase a season’s worth of success.
What the Change Means Moving Forward
Kyle Busch’s outspoken stance highlights both persistent concerns and potential volatility caused by the Chase’s return, particularly as aggressive racing and a win-at-all-costs culture continue to shape the modern Cup Series. Teams such as Hendrick, Gibbs, and Penske are likely to retain their competitive edge, while the stakes of each playoff race could grow more intense for everyone chasing the title. As NASCAR approaches 2026, the debate over the most equitable championship format is set to intensify, with Busch’s viewpoint providing a catalyst for ongoing discussion among drivers, teams, and fans alike.
🤔 "I thought we got away from it for a reason in the past, so I'm not real sure why we went back to it."
Kyle Busch shares his thoughts on The Chase returning, consistency, and the importance of winning, saying it still rewards the bigger teams.
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— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 2, 2026
