On Friday, NASCAR issued an update to the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rule Books, to include several competition updates for the 2026 NASCAR season.
Some of the major updates include provisionals for a brand-new OEM in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (RAM), tweaks to the way improperly secured lug nut penalties are officiated, a slight change to the Xfinity Fastest Lap Award, and the minimum age in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and much more.
OEM Provisionals
According to NASCAR’s Rule Book updates on Friday, a total of four (4) OEM Provisionals can be assigned to a brand-new OEM vehicle for the first three events, if the vehicle has not otherwise earned a starting grid position.
Those new OEM vehicles would be assigned starting grid positions 37 through 40 based on the speeds posted in the first round of single-vehicle qualifying.
Lug Nut Penalties (NOAPS/NCTS)
Starting in 2026, NASCAR has elected to make changes to the way improperly secured lug nuts are punished through the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
If one lug nut is improperly secured, then the team that is found to be in violation of the rule will lose their pit selection for the next event.
If a second lug nut is improperly secured, then the team violating the rule will be fined ($2,500 for Trucks, $5,000 for O’Reilly Series teams) and one crew member will be suspended for one race. With a third lug nut not secured, those fines increase to $5,000 and $10,000, respectively, and a second crew member is issued a one-race suspension.
Finally, if four or more lug nuts are improperly secured, then the vehicle is disqualified from the race.
Minimum Age Requirements (NOAPS)
As previously announced, NASCAR is lowering the age requirement to compete in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Now, drivers who are 17 can compete on racetracks measuring less than 1.25 miles in length.
Brent Crews, who will run 29 of 33 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events for Joe Gibbs Racing, is the only driver currently announced to benefit from the rule change.
Fastest Lap Point
The Xfinity Fastest Lap Award will return to NASCAR National Series competition once again in 2026, awarding a single championship point to the driver who posts the fastest lap in every single event.
However, beginning in 2026, a vehicle that goes to the garage on the Damaged Vehicle Policy will no longer be eligible to return to the racetrack and set a fast lap to earn the point — although that vehicle could win the award if it’s already set the fastest lap before pulling into the garage.
NOAPS / NCTS Eligibility
A driver earning points in the NASCAR Cup Series will not be eligible to compete in any of ‘The Chase’ events in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — that’s the final nine races in O’Reilly and the final seven events in Trucks.
Chase Waivers
If a waiver is granted for a reason other than a NASCAR-initiated and/or approved absence, the driver will begin ‘The Chase’ with 2000 points — or 2,020 in the case of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and 2,030 in the case of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
A driver who is assessed a one-race suspension, like Austin Hill was last year, will no longer be forced to drop to 2,000 points, as that is considered to be a NASCAR-initiated absence.
Past Winner’s Provisional (NCTS)
Like in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has instituted the Past Winner’s Provisional — which will allow a race-winner from the current or previous season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to get the 36th and final spot in the Truck Series field for any given event (as long as the Past Champion’s Provisional isn’t used).
