NASCAR’s Chase system is officially back for 2026, and with just three regular season races left, only four drivers have punched their ticket to the intense 10-race mini-season playoff. We’re looking at a brand new format where the top 16 drivers in the standings will battle it out, with no eliminations once the Chase starts, and points resetting in a big way for the contenders. The regular-season champ kicks off with a huge 2,100 points, second place gets 2,075, and it scales down in five-point increments, with 16th starting at 2,000. It’s all on the line at Richmond, New Hampshire, and Daytona, so let’s see who’s in and who’s still scratching and clawing.
Locked In And Looking Good
Four drivers have already secured their spots, and man, are they feeling good right now. Denny Hamlin, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, locked in after Atlanta, a full six races ago. He’s got a massive 103-point cushion over Ty Gibbs in the hunt for that regular-season title, which means a big boost going into the Chase. Tyler Reddick, representing 23XI, also clinched early after Atlanta. This guy has been on fire, leading the series with an incredible five wins this year. Talk about making a statement!
Then we’ve got Ryan Blaney from Team Penske, who secured his spot after North Wilkesboro. He’s got two victories this season and a series-best 16 top 10 finishes, showing that consistent performance pays off. Rounding out the locked-in crew is Ty Gibbs, another Joe Gibbs Racing powerhouse. He clinched his spot at Indianapolis and has absolutely dominated the stage points this year, racking up a whopping 195, the most of any driver. These four get to race the final three without the pressure cooker stress, but they’re still fighting for those crucial championship points.
On The Brink: Who’s Breathing Easier (Mostly)?
There are nine other drivers who are currently sitting pretty, more than 89 points above the cutline. Joey Logano is apparently the last on that list, and he’d have to completely fall apart, losing an average of 30 points a race, to drop out. Not gonna happen. Basically, anyone 76 points or more above the line, the max you can get in one race, is probably sleeping well.
Chase Briscoe, from JGR, jumped up a massive 52 points on the cutline with his win at Chicagoland a month ago. That put him squarely in the “safe” zone, and he’s just kept building that lead. Christopher Bell is sitting strong with 162 points above the line, thanks to an insane seven second-place finishes this year. He might not have the wins, but that consistency could make him a real title threat. Chase Elliott, a Hendrick guy, started his season with two wins, his best start ever, but he’s strangely gone nine races without a top-10. What’s up with that?
Carson Hocevar from Spire has had a solid run with a win, five top fives, nine top 10s, and no DNFs, putting him 147 points up. He’s basically a shoe-in. Chris Buescher from RFK has had a consistent season, even with just one stage win. Defending series champion Kyle Larson, from Hendrick Motorsports, was leading everyone in stage points until Indianapolis when a flat tire and crash ended his day after he’d taken the lead in Stage 1. Then he crashed again at Iowa. He’s 132 points up, but man, he needs to find some momentum ASAP. William Byron, another Hendrick driver, has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent season and is still hunting for his first win, but at 103 points above the line, he can still race without that bubble stress.
With Richmond, New Hampshire, and Daytona left on the schedule, the pressure is on for the rest of the field. We’ve got 12 spots left for drivers to grab, and for those on the edge, these next three races are everything. Get ready for some wild finishes!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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