Nascar -

: The driver with the highest total points after the final race of the season is crowned the champion. 2026 Cup Series Leaders

: The top-tier flagship series where the biggest stars compete. nascar

NASCAR operates three major national touring series, often referred to as a "ladder" for driver development: : The driver with the highest total points

Races are generally divided into , where the top 10 finishers of each stage earn bonus points. In a significant shift for the 2026 season, the NASCAR Cup Series returned to the "Chase" format used from 2004–2013: nascar