As NASCAR prepares to enter a new era in 2026, one major question remains unanswered. What will the next championship format look like? After a decade of the one-race, winner-take-all finale that’s decided titles since 2014, the system appears to have run its course.
Corey Heim, Jesse Love, and Kyle Larson were likely the last champions crowned under the current format, which features three elimination rounds leading up to a single-race showdown among four contenders.
While nearly everyone in the industry, fans, drivers, media, and team owners alike, has an opinion on what should replace it, NASCAR’s leadership is in no rush to make a call. On the latest Hauler Talk podcast, Mike Forde, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Racing Communications, said there’s no clear timeline for when a decision will come.
“It could be, honestly, in two weeks; it could be in two months,” Forde admitted, emphasizing that NASCAR’s focus is on making a thorough, long-term decision rather than a quick fix.
“We clearly want to make sure that we have been very thorough on this one,” he continued.
The sanctioning body has already gathered extensive feedback from its playoff committee, a group made up of media members, current and former drivers, and industry representatives.
“We feel good about the direction and the possibilities, here, because of the playoff committee and the work they’ve done, and the feedback that we’ve gotten from the industry,” Forde explained.
Now, the decision rests with NASCAR executives, including President Steve O’Donnell, who is reportedly among those weighing both the entertainment value and competitive integrity of any new format.
According to Forde, one of O’Donnell’s biggest concerns is ensuring the championship remains legitimate enough to attract and retain top driving talent, avoiding a scenario where young stars look elsewhere for more credible titles.
Possible directions include a revamped Playoff system with a multi-race championship round, a return to the classic 10-race Chase format, or even a full-season points structure reminiscent of NASCAR’s earlier days. For now, everything is on the table, and while the wait continues, many inside the sport view NASCAR’s deliberate approach as a positive sign that the next championship format will better balance fairness, excitement, and the prestige that defines true champions.
