The Chase is back + 2026 rulebook updates
from Hauler Talk
NASCAR announced on Monday the return to the Chase format with some updates to the old system! Win, and you're in, along with playoff points, are no more, as the top 16 drivers in points after 26 races will chase the championship. Mike and Nate discuss the behind-the-scenes discussions of the format change, along with several rulebook changes that will go into effect for the O'Reilly Auto Parts series and the Craftsman Truck series when they start their season in Daytona mid-February. 0:00 Welcome to the show 1:30 Testing at North Wilkesboro and the effects of 750 horsepower 12:10: 2026 lug nut rulebook update for NOAPS and NCTS 17:20: Addition of OEM provisional to NOAPS and NCTS 30:45: Minimum age requirement raised in the NOAPS 31:50: Fastest lap rule change 38:27: Behind the scenes of the Chase format discussions 56:00 Modeling the old points system and the new system and competitive the results were 1:04:50: Mark Martin’s outspokenness on the playoff committee 1:10:01: How much can the schedule change with the elimination of cutoff races 1:15:20: Why the Chase field size is 16 drivers 1:17:45: How the new format impacts specialist drivers who relied on certain tracks to make the playoffs 1:22:15 Jeff Gordon’s comments on the new format 1:23:12 Show close
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