NASCAR Chase Tracker: Just 9 Spots Remain After Richmond

NASCAR has a new playoff system in 2026. It’s back to The Chase.

Instead of win-and-in, it’s the top-16 drivers in the regular-season standings that will make the 10-race Chase, which will be a mini-season of its own with no eliminations. 

The 16 drivers will have their points reset for the start of the final 10-race stretch with the regular-season champion at 2,100 points, second place at 2,075, third place at 2,065, fourth place at 2,060 and so on by five-point increments with 16th reset to 2,000.

Two races remain in the regular season: New Hampshire and Daytona.

So who is in and who is out? 

Here’s a look:

Clinched

Seven drivers have clinched spots in the field of 16:

— Denny Hamlin: The Joe Gibbs Racing driver clinched a spot after Atlanta with six races remaining. He has a 103-point edge on Ty Gibbs in the battle for the regular-season title.

— Tyler Reddick: The 23XI driver also clinched a spot after Atlanta with six races remaining. His five wins this year lead the series.

— Ryan Blaney: The Team Penske driver, who has two victories and a series-best 16 top 10s this year, clinched a spot after North Wilkesboro.

— Ty Gibbs: The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has the most stage points of any driver this year with 195 and clinched a spot at Indianapolis.

Chase Briscoe is officially locked into the postseason.

— Chase Briscoe: The JGR driver clinched at Richmond.

— Christopher Bell: The JGR driver clinched at Richmond.

— Chase Elliott: The Hendrick driver clinched at Richmond.

In Good Shape

There are seven drivers who are 60 points or more above the cutline and would need to collapse and have someone below the cutline win to even have a remote chance of not making it in. 

— Kyle Larson (+143): The Hendrick Motorsports driver finished sixth at Richmond. He should clinch easily at New Hampshire as all he'll need is 10 points.

— Joey Logano (+142): He just got above the cutline a few weeks ago and now needs just 11 points at New Hampshire to clinch.

— Chris Buescher (+136): The RFK Racing can plan for The Chase. He needs just 17 more points to clinch.

— Carson Hocevar (+128): Hocevar has struggled of late but needing 25 points in the next two races is quite likely. He has no worries except for consistency in his performance.

Kyle Larson is looking to defend his Cup Series title.

— William Byron (+113): The Hendrick driver has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent season and still seeks his first win. At least he can comfortably race without worrying about making the playoffs. 

— Daniel Suárez (+101): The Spire Motorsports driver might be the biggest surprise of the season. He also should clinch at New Hampshire, as he'd need to lose 25 points to the cutline to still be in jeopardy.

— Bubba Wallace (+70): The 23XI Racing driver can clinch if he can gain seven points on the cutline at New Hampshire. But even if it comes down to Daytona, he knows how to get it done there.

Joey Logano is inching closer to earning a spot in The Chase.

On The Bubble

With 76 points being the most available in a race, I'm putting the bubble at 65 points ahead or behind as being on or outside the bubble with a chance. That's only four drivers. I'd say it's these four drivers for two spots, and the two drivers who are 50 points or more outside the bubble are still long shots.

— Austin Cindric (+57): The Team Penske driver finished third at Richmond to know breathe much, much easier. 

— Shane van Gisbergen (+50): The Trackhouse Racing driver has consistently scored stage points and finished in the top 20. He should be in unless a driver below the cutline pulls off an upset and he collapses.

 — Ryan Preece (-50): The RFK driver is a fighter and has a chip on his shoulder after a 25-point penalty earlier this year for intentionally wrecking Ty Gibbs. But he hasn't had enough top-10 days to rally. New Hampshire and Daytona, though, are good tracks for him.

— Ross Chastain (-63): The Trackhouse driver saw pretty much any chance slip away at Richmond as he finished 12th. Not a bad finish but not enough to threaten to make The Chase.

Could SVG end up making The Chase in 2026?

Little Or No Chance 

These six drivers are mathematically eligible for the Chase but that's about it.

— Brad Keselowski (-78): The RFK driver and 2012 Cup champion lost 30 points to the cutline at Richmond. It will be a disappointing season unless he can win a race.

— Erik Jones (-81): The Legacy Motor Club driver thought he had a great opportunity to gain points at Iowa until Tyler Reddick spun and collected him. He lost another 31 points to the cutline at Richmond.

— Michael McDowell (-104): The Spire Motorsports driver didn't take enough advantage of the road-course races and now is too far back to threaten.

— AJ Allmendinger (-125): The Kaulig Racing driver had been within striking range of the Chase but back-to-back 37th-place finishes ended his hopes before Indy.

— Todd Gilliland (-139): The FRM driver has been just a little too inconsistent this year, but he's still won the $1 million prize by taking the in-season tournament last month. That will be the highlight of his year unless he wins a race.

— Zane Smith (-149): His season has gone a little south over the last couple of months. The focus now is to get better to make a playoff run in 2027.

Already Eliminated

Connor Zilisch has had a forgettable rookie Cup season.

— Austin Dillon: The Richard Childress Racing driver was eliminated after Richmond.

— Riley Herbst: The 23XI driver was eliminated after Richmond.

— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-143): The Hyak Motorsports driver was eliminated after Richmond.

— John Hunter Nemechek (-153): The Legacy driver was eliminated after Richmond.

— Alex Bowman (-213): The Hendrick driver, who missed four races this year because of vertigo, was eliminated after Richmond.

— Cole Custer: The Haas Factory Team driver was eliminated after Iowa.

— Noah Gragson: The FRM driver was eliminated after Iowa.

— Ty Dillon: The Kaulig driver was eliminated after Iowa.

— Josh Berry: The Wood Brothers driver already knows he won’t be back next season and was eliminated after Iowa.

— Connor Zilisch: The Trackhouse rookie has had a miserable season and was eliminated after Iowa.

— Cody Ware: The Rick Ware Racing driver was eliminated from contention after Indianapolis.

O’Reilly Series

One race remains in the regular season and 12 will advance. 

Clinched: Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed, Corey Day, Brandon Jones, Austin Hill and Sammy Smith.

Truck Series

One race remains in the regular season and 10 advance. 

Clinched: Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Gio Ruggiero and Chandler Smith.

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