The time has come for NASCAR to make a big announcement. The sanctioning body has set the date for its unveiling of the new championship format for 2026 and beyond.
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According to a press release, NASCAR will hold a press conference at the Production Facility in Concord, North Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 12. This event will finally answer the lingering question about how future champions will earn the Bill France Cup.
Fans interested in watching the announcement can do so via the NASCAR YouTube channel, the NASCAR Channel on Tubi and Xumo Play, and the NASCAR website.
Last season marked the final time that drivers competed against each other in the "one-race championship." This format, which debuted in 2014, featured 16 drivers starting the 10-race playoffs with an opportunity to win the title.
Once the Cup Series drivers completed three races, NASCAR would eliminate the lowest four in the playoff standings. Twelve drivers would then advance and complete three more races. NASCAR would then eliminate four more drivers, leaving only eight.
The members of this octet would compete in three more races while trying to lock up a spot in the Championship 4. Once the checkered flag flew on this third race, NASCAR would eliminate four drivers. The remaining four would then head to the final race of the season to battle for the championship. Whomever finished best in the final race ended the season as the champion.
Kevin Harvick won the inaugural championship in the first year of the format (2014). Kyle Busch won in 2015, Jimmie Johnson won in 2016, Martin Truex Jr. won in 2017, and then Joey Logano won in 2018.
Busch won his second title in 2019, the final season where drivers battled for the Bill France Cup at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Chase Elliott then won the title in 2020 as the finale moved to Phoenix Raceway.
Kyle Larson won in 2021, Logano won in 2022, Ryan Blaney won in 2023, and then Logano won his third title in 2024. Larson captured the title last season as Phoenix hosted its final championship weekend for the time being.
Homestead-Miami Speedway will once again host the finale next season as numerous drivers try to end the season in the best possible manner.
