Why NASCAR’s changes for 2026 promise to deliver a much-improved racing product

A new season of NASCAR is just around the corner. While it got off to a rocky ‘start’ when snow caused a multi-day postponement to the annual exhibition race at Bowman Gray, snow shouldn’t be an issue for the first points-paying Cup race in Daytona Beach. The 68th running of the Daytona 500 features an entry list of 45-46 cars, with just 41 available spots on the grid.

And what about the grid for 2026? The newly locked in chartered entries (thanks to a settlement in the messy 23XI/FRM-versus-NASCAR lawsuit) means that 36 teams now hold permanent charters in their hands. They can feel a bit more secure financially, and the series can finally move on from a contentious antitrust lawsuit that nearly tore it in two. 

As for drivers on the move, there’s actually not much change from 2025. The major movers surround Trackhouse Racing, where rising star Connor Zilisch has been promoted to the Cup Series at the age of 19, replacing Daniel Suarez. NASCAR’s lone Mexican Cup driver will shift over to Spire Motorsports as the driver of the #7.

You’ll also notice that Shane van Gisbergen has changed numbers, taking on the #97 with which he enjoyed almost all of his Supercars success while Zilisch moves into the #88. As the only candidate for Rookie of the Year, Zilisch will have no competition there, but the pressure remains as the industry expects great things from the 2025 Xfinity pacesetter.

No more rounds, eliminations, or win and you’re in. This will put the power back in the hands of the sport’s top drivers and teams

There are several new crew chief/driving pairings to pay attention to, and some new alliances too. Both Haas Factory Team and Rick Ware Racing have abandoned Ford in favour of Chevrolet, with Haas also forming a technical alliance with the mighty Hendrick Motorsports. 

This season also brings a brand-new (but familiar) championship format, with NASCAR finally sidelining its controversial elimination-style playoffs. Instead, they will return to ‘The Chase’ format of old, which essentially breaks the season into two parts and is far less contrived.

After the first 26 races, the top 16 in points will be reset with gaps between each position to reward the most consistent drivers over the regular season. Then, rather simply, it will be a 10-race championship where the most points wins. No more rounds, eliminations, or win and you’re in.

This will put the power back in the hands of the sport’s top drivers and teams. Early favourites include Kyle Larson as he looks to defend his 2025 crown and, oddly, also end a winless streak that dates back to before his 2025 Indy 500/Coke 600 double.

Hamlin continues his two-decade mission to bag his first championship crown

Photo by: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin and his 20-year odyssey to become a champion continues in the penultimate year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell are all early favourites too. 

It will be a tall order to topple the titans of the sport (Hendrick/Gibbs/Penske) in 2026, but the teams with the best chance include Trackhouse, RFK Racing, 23XI and even Spire if it continues its upward trajectory. 

Byron will begin the year seeking a different kind of history though, the 2024 and 2025 victor of the Daytona 500 aiming to become the only driver to claim NASCAR’s biggest race in three consecutive years. It won’t be easy and, since his last two 500 wins ended with his rivals crashing mere inches from his door, that streak of luck can quickly run out. 

Chevrolet has to be feeling some added confidence as it brings a new body design into the upcoming season. Top Bowtie teams such as Hendrick, Trackhouse and Childress will feature an upgraded body purpose-built to perform better at intermediate and short tracks.

No longer can you have a bad day and shrug your shoulders because the team previously won a race and is locked into the playoffs. Every race and every point counts

These aggressive aero changes won’t be immediately visible if you’re not looking for them. Panels have been twisted and pushed inward to maximise downforce and extract a greater aerodynamic advantage, while hood louvres have been moved to improve cooling and increase power.

There are four road/street courses on the schedule, down from six just a year ago, and tracks such as Chicagoland Speedway and North Wilkesboro return as points-paying races. And looking at the schedule a bit deeper, there will be added pressure as every single race means so much more. No longer can you have a bad day and shrug your shoulders because the team previously won a race and is locked into the playoffs. Every race and every point counts.

Retirements could derail a season, and that may lead to some better driving standards as the risk now outweighs the reward in most situations. However, NASCAR has cleverly decided to add a huge 20-point gap between the race winner and runner-up positions, enticing any driver running second to not settle for being the first loser in favour of a good points haul.

The randomness of the knockout-style era is over, and the intensity is about to ratchet up as a result.

This article is one of many in the monthly Autosport magazine. For more premium content, take a look at the March 2026 issue and subscribe today. 

Can Hendrick Motorsports driver Byron become the first driver to claim three Daytona 500 wins in a row?

Photo by: Getty Images