You ever feel like you need a math degree just to figure out who’s actually winning a race? Seriously. I’ve sat on my couch during the Daytona 500, staring at the ticker, trying to explain to my brother why the guy in 12th place is "technically" leading the live standings because of some obscure stage point from forty laps ago.
If you’re looking for NASCAR Monster Series points info, you’re likely either a veteran fan frustrated by the constant tinkering or a newcomer wondering why the trophy isn't just handed to the guy who crosses the line first.
Here’s the thing: as of 2026, the game has changed. Again.
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NASCAR just pulled a massive "back to the future" move. They’ve officially ditched the high-stakes "elimination" style playoffs we’ve seen for the last decade and brought back "The Chase." If you remember the era from 2004 to 2013, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a total shift in how drivers earn their keep, and honestly, it makes a lot more sense for the average viewer.
The 2026 Points Overhaul: No More "Win and You're In"
For years, the mantra was simple: win a race, and you’re in the playoffs. It didn't matter if you were 30th in the standings; one lucky fuel-mileage win at Talladega punch your ticket to the postseason.
Not anymore.
Starting this season, NASCAR has killed the "win and you’re in" rule. Now, the 16 drivers who make it into the postseason are the 16 drivers with the most total points after the 26-race regular season. Period.
Why the change?
Basically, fans were getting tired of seeing consistent, top-tier drivers get bumped out of the playoffs by a "one-hit wonder" who caught a break. NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell admitted as much when the change was announced in January 2026. They wanted to reward "full-season consistency."
But don't think winning doesn't matter. They didn't just strip the reward; they moved it.
Winning a race now nets you 55 points.
Under the old system, it was 40. That 15-point jump is huge. It’s the biggest single-race payday we’ve seen in the modern era. It’s designed to stop drivers from "points racing"—you know, that thing where a driver settles for 5th because they don't want to risk a crash. With 55 points on the line for a win versus 35 for second place, the incentive to dive-bomb the leader on the final lap is higher than ever.
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How the NASCAR Monster Series Points Actually Stack Up
Let’s break down the actual math. If you’re watching a race this weekend, this is what the drivers are fighting for in their "Monster" machines:
- 1st Place: 55 points
- 2nd Place: 35 points
- 3rd Place: 34 points
- 4th Place: 33 points
- ...and it drops by one point for every position down to 36th.
If you finish 36th or worse? You get 1 point.
Kinda harsh, but that's racing.
Then you’ve got the stages. NASCAR kept the stage format because, love it or hate it, it keeps the middle of the race from getting boring. The top 10 finishers in Stage 1 and Stage 2 earn additional points: 10 for the stage winner, 9 for second, down to 1 point for tenth.
So, in a "perfect" race, a driver could theoretically walk away with 75 points (55 for the win plus 20 from winning both stages). That’s a massive swing in the standings.
The Death of Playoff Points (And Why You Should Care)
This is the part that usually confuses people. From 2017 to 2025, we had these "playoff points" that drivers would "bank" and carry through the rounds. It was like a savings account that kept them safe from one bad race.
In 2026, that savings account is closed.
NASCAR has eliminated the "bankable" playoff points system. Now, once the regular season ends, there is one single reset. The 16 drivers who made the cut have their points adjusted based on where they finished in the regular season standings.
The New "Chase" Reset
If you’re the Regular Season Champion, you get a massive head start. You start the 10-race Chase with 2,100 points.
The guy who finished 2nd in the regular season starts with 2,075.
The gaps continue down the line:
- 3rd place: 2,065
- 4th place: 2,060
- 5th place: 2,055
- ...and so on, with 5-point intervals down to the 16th seed.
Once that reset happens at the start of the postseason, that's it. No more resets. No more "Round of 12" or "Round of 8." You just race for 10 weeks, and whoever has the most points after the finale at Homestead-Miami is the champion.
It’s cleaner. It’s easier to track on a spreadsheet. Most importantly, it prevents a driver who dominated all year from losing the title just because they blew a tire in the final race of the season.
Real-World Impact: The "Kyle Larson" Factor
Think about a driver like Kyle Larson or Denny Hamlin. In the old "elimination" format, these guys would often dominate the regular season, win six or seven races, and then get knocked out because of one bad afternoon at Martinsville.
Under the 2026 NASCAR Monster Series points structure, those early-season wins and consistent top-fives actually build a "moat."
If Larson wins the regular-season title, he goes into the Chase with a 25-point lead over second place. That’s nearly half a race worth of points before the green flag even drops on the postseason. It rewards the "best" driver, not just the "luckiest" one in November.
Honestly, it feels more like "real" sports. In the NFL, if you go 16-0, you get home-field advantage and a bye. You don't just start the playoffs on even ground with the 9-7 team. This new NASCAR system finally mirrors that logic.
Common Misconceptions About the Points System
I hear this a lot at the track: "Does it even matter if my driver finishes 20th instead of 25th?"
Yes. In the old days of the 2014-2025 playoffs, if you weren't winning, you were basically just waiting for the next reset. But now, since every single point contributes to whether you even make the Chase, those five points between 20th and 25th are the difference between racing for a trophy in October or just racing for pride.
Also, a lot of people think the "Monster" name refers to a specific points rule. It doesn't. The "Monster Series" (referencing the Monster Energy sponsorship era) is often used interchangeably with the Cup Series. While the sponsorship landscape has shifted—with O’Reilly Auto Parts taking over the secondary series and various "Premier Partners" in the Cup—the points fundamentals remain the core of the "Monster" identity in stock car racing.
Stage Racing: Still the "Wild Card"
Don't ignore the stages. You’ll see drivers stay out on old tires just to grab those 10 stage points, even if it ruins their finish for the overall race.
Why? Because 10 stage points is the equivalent of finishing 26th vs finishing 36th. If a driver knows their car isn't fast enough to win the whole race, they will "vulture" stage points like crazy. It’s a sub-game within the race that keeps the points standings volatile.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re trying to track the NASCAR Monster Series points this year, stop looking at the "wins" column as the only metric for success.
- Watch the "Points Above Cutline" religiously. Since wins don't guarantee a playoff spot anymore, the battle for 15th, 16th, and 17th in the standings is going to be a bloodbath by mid-August.
- Value the "Laps Led" indirectly. While leading laps doesn't give "bonus points" like it did in the 90s, the guy leading laps is usually the guy winning stages. Stage points are the "silent killer" of standings leads.
- The Homestead Factor. The season finale has moved back to Homestead-Miami Speedway for 2026. This is a multi-groove track where "rim-riding" the wall is the fastest way around. Drivers who are good at high-line tracks are going to have a massive advantage in the final points tally compared to when the finale was at Phoenix.
This season is a massive experiment in returning to NASCAR's roots while keeping the "Game 7" feel of a postseason. It’s less about "who won today" and more about "who was the best over 36 weeks."
Keep your eyes on the cumulative total. That’s where the real story is told in 2026.
Next Steps for Tracking the Standings:
- Check the "Live Points" tracker during the Stage 2 break of any race to see the "Projected Chase Field."
- Follow the "Regular Season Championship" battle closely; that 25-point bonus for the winner is the most powerful tool a driver can have heading into the final 10 races.
- Monitor the manufacturer standings, as the new 55-point win reward also accelerates the points race for Chevy, Ford, and Toyota in their bid for the Manufacturers' Cup.