NASCAR is scheduled to reveal its updated championship format today, a move that industry insiders believe will streamline the title fight while still preserving the playoff structure that has defined the modern era of the sport.

According to executives familiar with the process, the new system is expected to place increased importance on points accumulated throughout the full season, aligning more closely with traditional racing principles. However, it is not anticipated that NASCAR will completely return to the pre-2004 points model that determined champions strictly by season-long totals.

NASCAR had previously indicated to several team executives, prior to the conclusion of the 2025 season, that maintaining some form of a playoff was the most probable outcome of its championship review. That expectation has remained consistent in recent weeks, with industry sources suggesting the sanctioning body favors evolution rather than a full-scale overhaul.

The revised format is widely believed to resemble the former “Chase” system, which debuted in 2004 and emphasized performance over a defined stretch of the season rather than a winner-take-all finale. There is also speculation that NASCAR could reintroduce the “Chase” terminology as part of the update.

NASCAR’s official announcement is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live across NASCAR.com, the NASCAR YouTube channel, and The NASCAR Channel.