One month to make the Chase: Who’s safe and who’s running out of time?
There is just one month of racing left in the regular season for the NASCAR Cup Series, as the Chase for the Championship returns for the first time since 2013. The revised format will take the top 16 drivers in the standings and reset their points after the 26th race of the season. The points leader will begin the final ten-week stretch with 2100 points, second will have 2075, third will begin…
With just one month remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the Chase for the Championship is set to begin, featuring the top 16 drivers. The points system has been revised, with the leader starting with 2100 points and each subsequent position receiving five fewer points, culminating in 16th place with 2000 points.
Four drivers have already secured their spots in the 2026 Chase: Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs. Four additional drivers have locked in their positions: Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Larson. These six drivers face a tight battle for the fifth position, with Daniel Suarez currently leading the pack by 103 points.
As the season approaches its final stretch, several drivers remain in contention for a Chase spot. William Byron, currently in 12th place, has shown improvement and is within reach of the top 16. Joey Logano has had an impressive summer, jumping to 13th place with 65 points over the cut-line. Bubba Wallace has had a mixed season but remains within striking distance at 14th place.
Shane van Gisbergen, currently 15th with 57 points over the cut-line, has demonstrated strong performances on ovals and is poised to secure a Chase spot. Austin Cindric, currently 16th with 38 points over the cut-line, has been consistently in the top 15 and benefits from the strengths of his Team Penske cars at superspeedways.
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