Ahead of the 2026 Cup Series season, NASCAR has announced the date and time for the new championship format. Following that, stock car analyst Jeff Gluck shared the news with fans via an X post. However, fans were still skeptical about the changes and expressed their views in the comments.
After wrapping up the 2025 season, the governing body finally listened to the fans and announced changes in the format for the upcoming season. The current format features three elimination rounds before the one-race championship decider race. Each round holds three races, eliminating the four lowest-scoring drivers from the grid until four remain to compete in the season finale race.
The current format was introduced by NASCAR in 2014. However, since 2024, the format has been facing backlash from fans and personalities like Mark Martin. In response, the sanctioning body formed a committee to change the playoff format. The stock car racing association has now confirmed the date and time for the announcement.
NASCAR analyst Jeff Gluck shared that the governing body will hold a press conference on Monday, January 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The conference will be followed by a special ‘Inside the Race’ studio show. Both will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com, NASCAR YouTube, and The NASCAR Channel.
Gluck wrote:
“The moment we’ve all been waiting for: the new NASCAR championship format announcement is Monday afternoon (3:30 pm ET). It will be streamed on NASCAR.com, NASCAR’s YouTube, and The NASCAR Channel.”
However, fans were still not impressed by the stock car racing association and expressed their skepticism, and one of them wrote:
“Prepare to be disappointed.”
“If it’s anything other than the chase format or the 36 full season points, then this is pointless,” another joined him in the comments.
Here are some more reactions to the news:
“I stopped watching with the new format where they have heats. Completely ruined it for me. Go back to the old format,” a comment read.
“Can’t wait to hear if I’m watching this year or not,” a fan commented.
“Imagine nothing changes,” an X user wrote.
“36 races or our sport is in serious trouble,” a stock car racing fan stated.
In November 2025, NASCAR managing director Mike Forde addressed this situation on the “Hauler Talk” podcast. He claimed that “he feels good about the direction and possibilities” of the format change. Also, earlier this month, stock car racing analyst Kelly Crandall predicted that the governing body might announce the changes this month.
NASCAR Shared the 2026 Cup Series Season Calendar Ahead of the Format Change
In November 2025, NASCAR revealed the full-time schedule for the 2026 Cup Series season. The sanctioning body also made a few tweaks to the schedule. It changed the destination of the Championship 4 race to Homestead-Miami Speedway and introduced two weeks off on separate occasions during the regular season.
The Athletic was the first to report the 2026 Cup Series calendar, and here’s the list:
- Feb. 1: Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
- Feb. 15: Daytona 500
- Feb. 22: Atlanta (EchoPark)
- Mar. 1: Circuit of the Americas
- Mar. 8: Phoenix
- Mar. 15: Las Vegas
- Mar. 22: Darlington
- Mar. 29: Martinsville
- Apr. 5: Off (Easter)
- Apr. 12: Bristol
- Apr. 19: Kansas
- Apr. 26: Talladega
- May 3: Texas
- May 10: Watkins Glen
- May 17: All-Star Race (Dover)
- May 24: Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
- May 31: Nashville
- Jun. 7: Michigan
- Jun. 14: Pocono
- Jun. 21: San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
- Jun. 28: Sonoma
- Jul. 5: Chicagoland
- Jul. 12: Atlanta (EchoPark)
- Jul. 19: North Wilkesboro
- Jul. 26: Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
- Aug. 2: Off weekend
- Aug. 9: Iowa
- Aug. 15: Richmond
- Aug. 23: New Hampshire
- Aug. 29: Daytona (regular-season finale)
- Sept. 6: Darlington (playoff opener)
- Sept. 13: Gateway
- Sept. 19: Bristol (Round 1 elimination)
- Sept. 27: Kansas
- Oct. 4: Las Vegas
- Oct. 11: Charlotte Roval (Round 2 elimination)
- Oct. 18: Phoenix
- Oct. 25: Talladega
- Nov. 1: Martinsville (Round 3 elimination)
- Nov. 8: Homestead (Championship Race)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clinched the Cup Series title in the 2025 season. During the closing laps, Larson was able to gain a lead over the race-dominant driver Denny Hamlin, resulting in his second title.
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