How NASCAR's 2026 Chase schedule compares to previous iterations

The final 10 races of the 2026 NASCAR season will see the top-16 drivers in the Cup Series points standings after 26 regular-season events fight it out to determine the champion under the new Chase format, which NASCAR used from 2004-13. 

The format features zero eliminations or points resets, with the champion being determined by which Chase driver collects the most points through the 10-race postseason. 

But the 2026 Cup Series schedule looks much different from it did during the first iteration of the Chase in 2004 and its last run in 2013. Here's how the Chase schedules of those three seasons compare. 

2004

2004's Chase schedule featured four 1.5-mile tracks, three one-mile tracks, one superspeedway, another intermediate track in Darlington and the half-mile of Martinsville. Six different drivers won the 10 Chase races, with Jimmie Johnson winning four of the 10. Johnson's success at intermediate tracks, which were prevalent on the Chase schedule in the 2000s, was a big part of his run of five consecutive championships from 2006-10. Despite his incredible 2004 Chase performance, Kurt Busch won the championship over Johnson in 2004.

2013

This was another season with a heavy dose of intermediates (five) in the Chase, which, interestingly enough, led to Johnson winning his sixth title in 2013. There were once again three one-mile ovals, as well as one short track (Martinsville) and one superspeedway (Talladega). 

Both Chicagoland and Texas found spots on the playoff schedule, while Darlington and Atlanta moved back into the regular season. 

2026

The 2026 schedule is arguably the most diverse 'Chase' schedule in NASCAR history. There are only three 1.5-mile tracks, though both Darlington and Gateway fall into the intermediate category. One superspeedway race at Talladega remains, as does a one-mile oval in Phoenix, but there are now two short track races (Bristol, Martinsville) and a road course race at the Charlotte Roval. Homestead-Miami remains the finale in the Chase era — it returns to its finale spot for 2026 after Phoenix hosted the finale from 2020-25. 

With a more diverse regular season and postseason schedule than its Chase predecessors, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is sure to be an exciting one as drivers and teams adjust to the new points format. 

The 2026 Cup Series season will officially begin with the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.