NASCAR Drops Regular‑Season Champion
NASCAR announced that the traditional playoff format will be retired after the 2025 season, marking the end of an era that crowned a regular‑season champion each year.
From 2026 onward, the series will adopt an upgraded Chase format, but the championship narrative will shift: the driver who tops the regular‑season standings will be designated the ‘No. 1 seed,’ while only one trophy will be presented at the November awards ceremony.
A New Scoring Paradigm
The move mirrors developments in other American sports, where leagues often recognize the team with the best regular‑season record through seeding rather than a separate title, a practice that emphasizes consistency over postseason drama.
Mike Forde, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, said the change reflects a desire to streamline recognition and focus attention on performance throughout the entire schedule.
Fans can expect a tighter points battle for the top seed, but the overall structure of the Chase remains intact, promising competitive racing while the sport embraces a more singular celebratory moment.