For the first time since 2013, NASCAR is resetting the Cup Series point standings just once in 2026. There is simply one 10-race postseason under the new "Chase" format, rather than four rounds like there were each year from 2014 to 2025.
The reset values were based on a predetermined set of values that was announced when NASCAR confirmed the return to the Chase setup that was initially used from 2004 to 2013. The bonuses are based exclusively on the regular season standings, with no more "playoff points" awarded for race wins or stage wins.
Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin got the biggest boost ahead of Sunday's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, a boost worth 100 extra points thanks to his regular season championship, and he is set to begin the postseason 25 points ahead of Team Penske's Ryan Blaney in second.
Yet at the same time, every one of his playoff rivals is actually much closer to him now than they were in terms of full-regular season points. The 15 playoff drivers not named Denny Hamlin made up a total of 3,440 points on the leader, thanks to the reset.
Regardless of how the playoffs unfold, you can guarantee that there will be fans who calculate what the final standings would have looked like under a full-season points format or a Winston Cup format, or even a Formula 1 format. It's all hypothetical, and we love it.
But for now, with NASCAR just hours away from a return to a postseason format that fans had be asking for for years, especially as the "win and in", knockout-style format produced quite a few, shall we say, interesting championship results, let's have a look at the opening standings for the first NASCAR Cup Series Chase in 13 years.
NASCAR standings after Chase playoff reset
Rank | Name | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 2100 | 0 |
2 | Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford | 2075 | -25 |
3 | Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota | 2065 | -35 |
4 | Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 2060 | -40 |
5 | Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 2055 | -45 |
6 | Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 2050 | -50 |
7 | Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 2045 | -55 |
8 | Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 2040 | -60 |
9 | Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford | 2035 | -65 |
10 | Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford | 2030 | -70 |
11 | Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 2025 | -75 |
12 | Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 2020 | -80 |
13 | William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 2015 | -85 |
14 | Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota | 2010 | -90 |
15 | Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford | 2005 | -95 |
16 | Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford | 2000 | -100 |
Drivers who failed to qualify for the Chase did not have their point values reset, and theirs are set to continue to be based on full-season points.
Live coverage of Sunday's Cook Out Southern 500 is set to be provided by USA Network beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET from Darlington Raceway. You don't want to miss the first NASCAR Cup Series Chase race since 2013 to get this year's 10-race postseason underway!
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