NASCAR has entered a new era after the playoffs were eliminated following the 2025 season. Starting in 2026, NASCAR has moved to an upgraded Chase format, giving drivers more control of their own destiny. However, there is another change the sport is making that is just now being reported before the end of the 2026 regular season.
NASCAR will no longer name a regular-season champion or give out a trophy, as reported by Mike Forde on the Hauler Talk podcast. Moving forward, NASCAR will call the top driver in the regular season standings the "No. 1 seed." Therefore, only one trophy will be handed out each season, coming in November.
This isn't a bad change, as several other American sports don't recognize the top team in the regular season. In other sports,
the top team in each conference simply earns the "No. 1 seed." NASCAR doesn't feel the need to award anything more than bonus points, and it lines up with other sports.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR won't name a "regular season champion" starting in 2026
