As the 2025 NASCAR season approaches its conclusion, discussions about the format for the 2026 season are gaining momentum, prompting drivers like Chase Elliott to weigh in. Elliott shared his perspective on the potential return of the traditional full-season chase system, highlighting how this change could alter driver strategies on the track.
Chase Elliott’s Forecast on How Drivers Might Adapt to a Full-Season Chase
Chase Elliott has shown strong support for the established chase format, which rewards consistency over the entire season. In July, he emphasized the importance of celebrating a driver who dominates through steady performance rather than focusing solely on short-term playoff results. If the format reverts to this longstanding style, Elliott predicts a notable shift in how drivers approach their races.
Mark Martin, another prominent advocate for the full-season chase, praised Elliott’s insights, noting that Elliott understands nuances others might overlook. Martin would welcome the format’s return enthusiastically, whereas Elliott is considering the strategic adjustments that drivers will have to make. Speaking about the potential changes for 2026, Elliott remarked,
“People would run their races differently if that were the case.”
He further reflected on the significance of sportsmanship among teammates on track, stating,
“I think it’s just a respect thing whether somebody’s your teammate or not.”
— Chase Elliott on racing Hendrick teammates
Elaborating on how drivers might respond to a full-season chase, Elliott compared it to the early years of NASCAR’s current playoff system. He recalled the initial lack of appreciation for stage points, explaining,
“Best example I can give is those first couple of years that we had the playoff system the way it was, it was almost like everyone didn’t realize how beneficial and crucial stage points were there those first couple years and there was a lot of freebies up for grabs….And then as time went on, like everyone figured that out and realized man, you can really stack some points and totally you change the complexion of your day.”
— Chase Elliott
This example underscores how drivers constantly adapt once they understand the rewards and penalties tied to the scoring system. Elliott also expressed curiosity about whether the full-season chase would retain the current stage format or implement new procedures, but he chose not to speculate further, preferring to wait for NASCAR officials to outline the details.
Current Championship Standings and Upcoming Race Details
At 29 years old, Chase Elliott enters the Hollywood Casino 400 positioned fourth in qualifying, with his teammate Kyle Larson starting third. Both drivers represent Hendrick Motorsports and are tasked with challenging drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing, who secured the front row for the race’s start. Their performance in this event will be crucial as the playoffs enter the Round of 12.
Given the potential rule shifts, Elliott’s reflections provide insight into how seasoned drivers might recalibrate their tactics if the full-season chase returns. His analytical approach reflects the broader uncertainty in the racing community about the upcoming changes and their possible effects on competition dynamics.
Anticipated Effects of a Format Shift on NASCAR Strategy
Returning to the traditional full-season chase system could significantly impact how drivers manage their races, focusing more on sustained consistency throughout the year rather than short-term playoff bursts. The strategic value of stage points, as Elliott illustrated, may have to be reconsidered if stages themselves undergo alteration or removal under a revised format.
This potential shift would influence not only on-track decisions but also interpersonal dynamics, especially among teammates, where respect and cooperation could play heightened roles. Elliott’s comments suggest that drivers must prepare for new challenges in pacing and point accumulation if NASCAR moves forward with the format change.
As NASCAR officials finalize and announce the specifics of the 2026 season, fans and participants alike await clarity on how these structural changes will reshape the sport. Elliott’s predictions offer an early glimpse of the evolving strategies that could come to define the next chapter of NASCAR racing.
"I think it's just a respect thing whether somebody's your teammate or not."@chaseelliott on racing Hendrick teammates on track.
He also speculates how drivers would handle a full-season format.
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 27, 2025
