What Happened to NASCAR Cup Series?
The NASCAR Cup Series continues to evolve with significant rule changes, a new media rights deal, and a dynamic racing landscape. The 2025 season saw Kyle Larson clinch his second championship, while the 2026 season brought back 'The Chase' playoff format and an increase in horsepower for certain tracks, alongside notable schedule adjustments and a shift in the championship awards ceremony location. Viewership trends show a mixed picture, with overall declines but growth in specific demographics and platforms like Prime Video.
Quick Answer
The NASCAR Cup Series is currently in its 2026 season, which has seen the reintroduction of 'The Chase' playoff format, an increase to 750 horsepower for short tracks and road courses, and a revised schedule including the return of Chicagoland Speedway. Kyle Larson was crowned the 2025 champion. The series is navigating a new media rights deal, with viewership showing fragmentation across platforms but some positive engagement trends, particularly on digital channels and Prime Video. The 2026 season has also been marked by the tragic passing of two-time champion Kyle Busch in May.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Next Gen Car Continues Evolution
The Next Gen car, introduced in 2022, continued to be refined, aiming for closer competition and cost efficiency across the series. The 2024 season saw Joey Logano win the championship.
2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season Begins
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season officially kicked off with the Cook Out Clash, leading into a season that would feature 14 different race winners and record last-lap passes.
NASCAR holds first international race in 67 years
The 2025 Viva México 250 marked NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the United States in 67 years, held in Mexico City, showcasing the sport's international appeal.
Kyle Larson Wins Second Cup Series Championship
Kyle Larson secured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, finishing third in the final race but clinching the title in a dramatic overtime battle against Denny Hamlin.
Major 2026 Rule Changes Announced
NASCAR announced significant technical updates for the 2026 season, including an increase to 750 horsepower for short tracks and road courses, and a mandate for A-post flaps on all cars.
2026 Schedule and 'The Chase' Format Confirmed
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule was officially released, confirming the return of Chicagoland Speedway and the championship finale at Homestead-Miami. Crucially, 'The Chase' playoff format was reinstated, replacing the elimination style.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season Begins with Daytona 500
The 68th running of the Daytona 500 officially kicked off the 2026 Cup Series season. Tyler Reddick won the race, which garnered 7.489 million viewers, an 11% increase from the previous year.
Two-time Champion Kyle Busch Passes Away
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch tragically passed away due to sepsis caused by pneumonia, marking a somber moment for the sport. He was the first active full-time driver to die during a season since Dale Earnhardt in 2001.
NASCAR Enters 'The Chase' with Growth in Engagement
NASCAR entered 'The Chase' presented by Mobil 1, reporting broad-based growth in event admissions (up 9%), social impressions (up 31%), and trackside merchandise sales (up 26.8%), indicating strong fan engagement.
Wet-Weather Tire Protocol Altered
NASCAR announced a rule change allowing teams more discretion in switching between wet-weather tires and slicks at designated ovals, starting with the Bristol races.
Legacy Motor Club Announces Crew Chief Change
Legacy Motor Club's No. 42 team announced Chais Eliason would take over as Crew Chief for the remainder of the 2026 season and into 2027, working with incoming driver Josh Berry.
Kyle Larson on Pole for Bristol Night Race
Kyle Larson secured the pole position for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, with qualifying canceled due to weather and the lineup set by metric. Denny Hamlin leads 'The Chase' standings.
NASCAR Awards Ceremony Moves to Miami
NASCAR announced that the 2026 NASCAR Awards will be held on November 10 at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, just two days after the Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, bringing the celebration closer to the finale.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The NASCAR Cup Series, the premier level of stock car racing in the United States, has undergone significant transformations in recent years, continuing its evolution into the 2026 season. Following the introduction of the Next Gen car, which aimed to standardize components and reduce costs, the series has focused on enhancing competition and fan engagement. The 2025 season, for instance, delivered a record nine races decided by a last-lap pass, showcasing intense competition. Kyle Larson secured his second Cup Series championship in 2025, triumphing in a dramatic overtime finish at Phoenix Raceway against Denny Hamlin.
Heading into 2026, NASCAR implemented several pivotal rule changes. A major development was the return of 'The Chase' as the championship format, replacing the elimination-style playoffs that had been in place since 2014. This format sees the top 16 drivers by points qualify for a 10-race championship battle, with race wins now carrying more weight (55 points, up from 40). Technical adjustments for 2026 included an increase in engine output to a target of 750 horsepower for tracks under 1.5 miles and road courses, a move designed to boost performance at these venues. Additionally, A-post flaps, designed to reduce liftoff during spins, were mandated for all tracks after being introduced for superspeedways in late 2025.
The 2026 schedule also saw notable shifts, with Chicagoland Speedway returning for the first time since 2019, and the championship finale moving back to Homestead-Miami Speedway after Phoenix Raceway's six-year run as the title decider. The All-Star Race shifted to Dover Motor Speedway, and North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted its first points-paying Cup Series race since 1996. The season, however, was marked by tragedy with the unexpected passing of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch on May 21, 2026, due to sepsis caused by pneumonia. This was the first death of an active full-time driver during a season since Dale Earnhardt in 2001.
Viewership trends for the Cup Series in 2025-2026 have been mixed. While overall average viewership has seen a gradual decline since 2024, with numbers dipping to roughly 2.16-2.73 million depending on the platform and measurement, the Daytona 500 remains a strong draw, hitting 7.489 million viewers in 2026, an 11% jump from 2025. The fragmentation of broadcast rights across FOX, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and TNT Sports has played a role in these trends. Notably, Prime Video's five-race 2026 schedule averaged 2.29 million viewers, an increase of 6% from 2025, and is attracting a younger audience with a median age of 57.7, more than five years younger than linear TV audiences. Social engagement and trackside merchandise sales have shown significant growth in 2026, with event admissions up 9% year-over-year and 11 Cup Series sellouts.
As of September 19, 2026, the Cup Series is deep into 'The Chase,' with Denny Hamlin currently leading the championship standings. Kyle Larson, the reigning champion, is also performing strongly, securing pole positions and wins in the early Chase races. The season will conclude on November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with the NASCAR Awards ceremony moving to Miami for the first time, just two days later, to celebrate the champions of all three national series.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if NASCAR Cup Series made different choices?