Overview
- The 2026 Chase opens at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6, when 16 reseeded drivers begin a 10-race run that will decide the championship by cumulative points.
- NASCAR reset the top 16 drivers’ totals after the regular season so that race wins now carry 55 points and drivers can earn up to 20 stage points, creating a 70-point maximum swing in a single event.
- Denny Hamlin starts the Chase as the No. 1 seed with a 25-point edge and is listed among the betting favorites alongside Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson according to published odds.
- Darlington’s egg-shaped layout, abrasive surface, heavy tire wear and close outside wall make the Southern 500 a punishing opener where a single mistake or bad tire strategy can cost large amounts of points.
- The Chase’s return restores a season-long, points-based finish to NASCAR’s postseason and shifts emphasis from single-race eliminations to consistent performance across the final 10 events, a change that alters team strategy and pressure on drivers.