NASCAR's revived Chase championship format means new territory for Larson

Kyle Larson has won major dirt races around the world, competed in the Indianapolis 500, and has a Rolex watch from a triumph at Daytona in America's biggest sports car race. Then there are his wins across the three NASCAR national series and two Cup Series championships. 

In other words, Larson is an accomplished race car driver with a padded resume. But there is one thing he hasn’t done before that, if he wants to add a third Cup Series title to his resume in 2026, he’s going to have to figure out.

How to get through the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.

“I’m just excited to try something new,” Larson told RACER about NASCAR reintroducing the 10-race Chase. “I’ve only ever raced under in the playoff era.”

Larson joined the Cup Series tour in 2014, the first year of the elimination era format, or what was known as the playoffs. He won both of his Cup Series titles in a system that featured eliminations and a winner-take-all finale. And both times Larson needed every bit of the finale to prevail.

The first championship came in 2021, his first season driving the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports. Larson was the dominant and most deserving driver of the season, having won nine races going into the finale. But with 30 laps to go, Larson was running fourth of the title contenders before a caution allowed his team to get him first off pit road. He led the rest of the way.

Last year, of course, was similar. Larson and his team were one of the top five on the season in overall points, but were running third among the title contenders before a caution set up overtime in the finale. Larson’s team got him off pit road ahead of his rivals, and he did the rest on the way to the checkered flag in the third position.

But in the Chase, there will be no second chances. NASCAR will crown its champion over the final 10 races, not with eliminations and a one-race final, but a straight-up points battle.

“I think it’s good,” Larson said. “I think winning is still really important with the amount of points that you get. So, I think it’s great. It benefits a good team like Hendrick Motorsports, so hopefully that makes it a little bit clearer path to winning a championship.” 

Larson spent 17 of the 26 races of the regular season either third or better in the championship standings last year. Meanwhile, teammate William Byron was first or second in the standings for all 26 weeks, and Chase Elliott was inside the top five for 23 of the 26 weeks. The consistency of Hendrick Motorsports drivers was unmatched.

A new format might make things look different, Larson admitted. The competition races to the format that’s in place. On the other hand, Larson doesn’t see the contenders changing from those who did well in the playoffs to those who will be there in the Chase.

Which would include himself and his team.

“It was really tough to make it to the final four and have it come down to one race where you had to be good at that track and not have anything freak happen,” Larson said. “I would assume everyone is just happier to have this format, and if you can be consistent and run up front and win some races, I think you’ll position yourself well.”

Larson has finished no worse than seventh in the championship since joining Hendrick Motorsports. He made the Championship 4 in three of those five seasons.

The Cup Series field will feature six full-time drivers who are former champions this season, including Larson. However, he is one of just three drivers who have won multiple titles alongside Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. 

As the reigning champion, Larson feels he has better balanced his offseason this time around, enjoying and celebrating his accomplishment. The winter following his first championship felt very busy, whereas this time around, Larson felt he raced just enough to keep him happy and then family time, like hockey practices and games with daughter Audrey, was the focal point.

But now he’s ready to begin chasing another championship.

“I’m ready to get back going,” Larson said. “It’s been plenty for me. I haven’t spent a ton of time around the NASCAR group, so I’m excited to get back with the guys and the teammates, and as weird as it is to say, I miss the meetings and the preparation. I miss the routine, I guess. 

“It’s weird when you go all year and have something on your calendar every day and then in the offseason, there’s nothing. That’s great for a little, but then it’s like, all right, what am I going to do today? At least now we’re getting to the point where we have some structure and routine.”