NASCAR points standings: Updated driver rankings from every 2026 Cup Series race

The NASCAR season is in full swing, which means drivers are competing for seeds in the season-long standings.

After over a decade using an elimination-style points system, NASCAR made the decision to drastically change its competition format for the 2026 season, bringing The Chase back into play. That will impact both how drivers collect points over the course of the season and how drivers will qualify for the Cup Series race.

Last year, Kyle Larson won his second Cup Series title, using overtime to defeat Denny Hamlin in the final race. However, a new year means every driver begins the season with the belief that they can top the field in the end.

Here's a look at the updated NASCAR standings for 2026.

NASCAR standings 2026

How does the NASCAR points system work?

NASCAR changed its point system for the 2026 season, eliminating the elimination-style system after over a decade and returning to The Chase..

The new system instead is similar to the Cup Series system that NASCAR used from 2004 to 2013, with some notable changes. The top 16 drivers by points in the Cup Series will qualify for The Chase, doing away with automatic playoff berths and regular-season winners.

The point system works as follows: race winners will earn 55 points, up 15 from the last system, while the rest of the finishers' points remain unchanged. This year, drivers can't earn bankable playoff points like they could in the past.

Every Cup Series Chase field will feature 25 points awarded to the regular-season champion, and the top seed will begin The Chase with 2,100 points while each  seed following has a decreased number of points from there.

Simply, the driver who ends the series with the most points will be declared a champion.

NASCAR race schedule 2026