Everything just changed. If you’ve been following the sport for the last decade, you’re probably used to the "win and you’re in" playoff bracket. That’s gone. Honestly, NASCAR basically decided to hit the reset button for 2026, and if you're looking for the latest NASCAR Cup Series results, the context is way different than it was last year.
Last season, Kyle Larson snagged his second title in a total nail-biter at Phoenix. It was wild. Denny Hamlin was right there—again—and once again, the championship slipped through his fingers. Larson’s 2025 win was a masterclass in resilience, especially after that messy pit stop mid-race that dropped him to 18th. But here’s the kicker: under the new 2026 rules, the path to that trophy looks nothing like the elimination-style chaos we've seen since 2014.
The End of the Elimination Era
NASCAR finally pulled the plug on the knockout rounds. No more "Round of 12" or "Round of 8" where three bad weeks can kill a season. Instead, for 2026, we’ve gone back to "The Chase." It’s a 10-race sprint to the finish line among the top 16 drivers.
Consistency is king again.
💡 You might also like: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
You’ve gotta wonder what this does to the garage's psyche. Under the old system, a driver like Shane van Gisbergen—who won five times in 2025—could cruise into the next round just by winning. Now? You need points. You need to be top-ten every single week. The NASCAR Cup Series results from the early 2026 races like the Daytona 500 and Atlanta are already showing a shift. Drivers aren't just "checkers or wreckers" anymore. They’re points racing from lap one.
2026 Schedule Highlights and Early Winners
The 2026 season kicked off with a literal bang at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash. It was tight, it was short, and it was classic short-track racing. But the real meat of the season started at Daytona.
- Daytona 500: William Byron took the checkered flag, proving the No. 24 is still the car to beat when it comes to superspeedways.
- Atlanta (Ambetter Health 400): Christopher Bell showed up and reminded everyone why Joe Gibbs Racing is a powerhouse, edging out Ryan Blaney in a photo finish.
- The Mexico City Factor: For the first time, we’re seeing a points-paying race in Mexico City this June. That's going to be a massive wildcard for the mid-season standings.
It’s sorta weird seeing Homestead-Miami back as the season finale. For years, Phoenix was the place where the trophy was handed out. Now, the championship will be decided on the high banks of Homestead on November 8.
📖 Related: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
Why Results Look Different Under the New Points Model
The 2026 points model is a throwback. The "win-and-you're-in" rule is dead. You can win five races in the regular season, but if you don't have the points to back it up, you aren't making The Chase. NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell was pretty blunt about it—they wanted to reward full-season performance.
Look at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series results for a second. William Byron was the regular-season champion, but Larson took the big trophy at the end. In 2026, if you’re the regular-season champ, you get a 25-point premium heading into The Chase. That's a massive cushion. It means the "Summer Slump" isn't an option for teams like Hendrick or Penske anymore.
The Return of The Chase Field
- Top 16 Qualify: Strictly on points. No automatic berths for one-off winners at Talladega.
- No Eliminations: All 16 drivers compete for the title across all 10 postseason races.
- The Reset: Points reset to 2,100 for the top seed, then 2,075, 2,065, and dropping by five for each seed thereafter.
This change is basically a response to fan feedback. People wanted the season to feel like a marathon, not a series of sprints. It makes the NASCAR Cup Series results from Darlington to Homestead far more cumulative. You can't just have one "perfect" race in the finale and steal the title if you were mediocre for the nine races prior.
👉 See also: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
Drivers to Watch in 2026
Kyle Larson is obviously the favorite. The guy is a machine. He’s won at least three races in each of the last five seasons. But don't sleep on Chase Elliott. He was vocal about liking the new format, saying it suits his style of staying out of trouble and banking top-fives.
Then there's the Kyle Busch situation. 2025 was rough for RCR. Busch had three different crew chiefs and missed the playoffs. For 2026, he’s paired with Jim Pohlman. If they don't start seeing top-ten NASCAR Cup Series results by the time we hit the Coca-Cola 600 in May, the "Silly Season" rumors are going to be deafening.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re tracking the standings this year, stop looking for the "win" column as the only metric for success.
Focus on "Average Finish." In the 2026 Chase format, a driver with an average finish of 5.2 over the final ten races is almost guaranteed the title, even without a win. Watch the stage points too. Those little increments are what will separate the 4th seed from the 10th seed when the points reset in September.
Check the entry lists for the new venues. Naval Base Coronado in San Diego (July 5) and the return to Chicagoland (July 12) are going to be data-poor environments for the teams. These are the races where "racer's instinct" will beat out the engineering simulations. Keep an eye on the results from the Saturday practice sessions; they’re more indicative of Sunday performance than they’ve been in years due to the reduced testing time.