“We feel good about the direction”: NASCAR MD Mike Forde provides an update on the new championship format timeline

NASCAR managing director Mike Forde was recently featured on the Hauler Talk podcast and spoke about the future of the championship format timeline. During the podcast, Forde revealed that he "feels good about the direction and possibilities" of the format change.

The current playoff format features three-race elimination rounds, preceding the one Championship 4 race. The governing body introduced this format in 2014 and has been following it since then. However, after wrapping up the 2024 season, fans and veterans have been criticizing the sanctioning body to change the format to give well-performing drivers a better chance at the championship title.

On the podcast, NASCAR MD Mike Forde revealed there is no clear answer on when the playoff committee will make the decision. He claimed the decision could be in two weeks or two months. Forde further explained (via Si.com):

"We clearly want to make sure that we have been very thorough on this one. Obviously, it'll be before what is it, February 5th, and The Clash. But it could be sooner than later; it could be in January. I don't know. I don't think anyone knows just yet. Still discussions to be had on where we are on this place in the discussion with the Playoff format." "We feel good about the direction and the possibilities, here, because of the playoff committee and the work they've done, and the feedback that we've gotten from the industry," he added.

The NASCAR playoff committee featured numerous members from every sector. The committee comprises members from the stock car racing association, media, and television industry. The 2026 Cup Series season will kick off with the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, 2026.

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NASCAR revealed the full-time schedule for the 2026 Cup Series season

In November 2025, NASCAR unveiled the full-time schedule of the 2026 Cup Series season. The governing body made tweaks to the next season by adding two additional races and changing the venue of the Championship 4 race from Phoenix Raceway to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Athletic media house was the first to release the Cup Series schedule, and here's the list of the races:

• Feb. 1: Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
• Feb. 15: Daytona 500
• Feb. 22: Atlanta (EchoPark)
• Mar. 1: Circuit of the Americas
• Mar. 8: Phoenix
• Mar. 15: Las Vegas
• Mar. 22: Darlington
• Mar. 29: Martinsville
• Apr. 5: Off (Easter)
• Apr. 12: Bristol
• Apr. 19: Kansas
• Apr. 26: Talladega
• May 3: Texas
• May 10: Watkins Glen
• May 17: All-Star Race (Dover)
• May 24: Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
• May 31: Nashville
• Jun. 7: Michigan
• Jun. 14: Pocono
• Jun. 21: San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
• Jun. 28: Sonoma
• Jul. 5: Chicagoland
• Jul. 12: Atlanta (EchoPark)
• Jul. 19: North Wilkesboro
• Jul. 26: Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
• Aug. 2: Off weekend
• Aug. 9: Iowa
• Aug. 15: Richmond
• Aug. 23: New Hampshire
• Aug. 29: Daytona (regular-season finale)
• Sept. 6: Darlington (playoff opener)
• Sept. 13: Gateway
• Sept. 19: Bristol (Round 1 elimination)
• Sept. 27: Kansas
• Oct. 4: Las Vegas
• Oct. 11: Charlotte Roval (Round 2 elimination)
• Oct. 18: Phoenix
• Oct. 25: Talladega
• Nov. 1: Martinsville (Round 3 elimination)
• Nov. 8: Homestead (Championship Race)

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson outperformed Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin in the Championship 4 race this season. Hamlin went for a four-tire pit stop, giving Larson the lead and ultimately the NASCAR Cup Series championship title.

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Edited by Karan Yadav