Chase Elliott, the 23‑time Cup Series veteran, has lauded NASCAR’s decision to revert to the traditional Chase points system for the 2026 season, saying the change restores the sport’s genuine identity and eliminates the gimmicks that have plagued recent years.
NASCAR's New Points Framework
Under the revised format, the points ledger will be reset after the regular season, with the top‑scoring driver among the ten Chase races crowned champion, eliminating the previous elimination‑style playoffs that once forced dramatic, artificially heightened stakes.
Elliott, who captured his first championship in 2020 by winning the final two races after advancing to the Round of 8, described the new approach as "more authentic" and said it removes the forced drama that has characterized the sport’s recent narrative.
Having also secured the regular‑season title in 2022 before falling short at the Championship 4, Elliott now enters the 2026 Chase as the eighth seed, 60 points behind Denny Hamlin, and has managed only a single top‑10 finish in his last dozen outings.
Despite a fifth‑place finish at Richmond and two victories already this year, Elliott’s recent performances have been inconsistent, highlighted by an 18th‑place result at Darlington, yet he remains focused on adding a second Cup crown to his résumé.
By aligning the championship battle with finishing positions rather than artificial point adjustments, NASCAR hopes to deliver a more satisfying spectacle for fans, and Elliott believes his own pursuit of a second title will benefit from the renewed emphasis on genuine competition.