NASCAR has announced it will revert to a 10-race Chase championship format starting in 2026, ending the current playoff system. While the news has been welcomed by many in the racing community, Joey Logano, a three-time Cup Series champion, expressed a bittersweet reaction to the change during a January 2026 news conference held at North Wilkesboro Speedway. As a driver deeply familiar with the playoff era, Logano admitted he has a fondness for the former elimination-style postseason format.
“Personally, I liked – I was one of the rare people apparently that liked the old [format],”
Logano said.
“Just from a fan perspective, I enjoyed it.”
Logano’s Championship Success Under the Playoffs
Logano’s career achievements are closely tied to the playoff system, with championship titles earned in 2018, 2022, and 2024. This connection helps explain his appreciation for the former structure, despite NASCAR’s decision to move away from it. His experience highlights the complexities of adapting to evolving competition formats in the sport.
Adjusting to the New Rules and Competition Style
At 35 years old and racing out of Middleton, Connecticut, Logano recognizes that change is necessary in NASCAR’s competitive landscape. He is preparing to adapt his strategies under the revamped championship framework, emphasizing that all drivers face the same conditions and must compete fairly under any rule set.
“Honestly, I’m okay with whatever they tell us,”
Logano explained.
“Because the rules are the same for everybody just like they were before. Everyone started with the same set of rules, we all knew what we had to do to try to win a championship. Now we have a different set of rules, but it all starts at zero again and we have to change the way we go win a championship.”
Logano’s Recent Performance and NASCAR Postseason Details
Coming off the 2025 season, Logano secured one victory and achieved 13 top-10 finishes across 36 races. Throughout his career, he has qualified for the Cup Series playoffs 11 times in 12 years, demonstrating consistent competitiveness. During the previous Chase format era (2009-13), he qualified for the 12-driver postseason field only once, in 2013, the year he joined Team Penske.
Despite the format shifts, NASCAR will maintain a postseason field of 16 drivers, a number established when the playoff system was introduced in 2014.
Context from NASCAR Coverage and Industry Insights
Samuel, a racing journalist originally from the region shared by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since early 2024. A member of the National Motorsports Press Association, he provides ongoing analysis of the sport’s developments. His reporting also extends to Arkansas Razorback basketball, illustrating a diverse sports coverage portfolio.
“Personally, I liked the old [format].”
3x Champ @joeylogano was a fan of the old format, but is alright with NASCAR moving back to The Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/PL9VV2Hx7X
— PRN (@PRNlive) January 13, 2026
