NASCAR highlights rule changes for 2026 season
CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR highlighted a slew of rule changes this week, ahead of the 2026 season.
The biggest rule changes concern the fastest lap bonus point in the top national series and Ram Trucks’ foray into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
For 2026, if a driver runs the fastest lap of the race after being in the garage, they will not receive the bonus point for running the fastest lap of the race.
In 2025, drivers would earn the bonus point after losing multiple laps in the garage. Often having no one to race for position because they’re so far back, there is the idea that teams can set up the cars to specifically run for the bonus point and don’t have to worry about being competitive for position. Additionally, with the more points-based system in place, a driver farther back earning that bonus point can take away from the intrigue the race’s frontrunners trying to earn every point they can get.
NASCAR is introducing a new provisional for vehicles belonging to new manufacturers, like Ram Trucks.
In 2026, NASCAR may assign up to four additional starting grid positions to a new OEM vehicle for the first three races if that vehicle hasn’t already earned a starting spot. They will get starting spots 37th through 40th, based on their speed in the first qualifying round.
“The spirit of this rule is to help ease the on-boarding of a new manufacturer into national series racing. OEMs using this provisional will not earn prize money, but will earn points,” a NASCAR spokesperson shared in a statement issued to the media.
Eligibility for races is also changing in 2026.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers can run the regular season finale in NOAPS and/or Trucks, if they wish to. However, they still can’t run any of the Chase races.
As previously announced:
– 17 years old is the minimum age for a driver to enter NOAPS races at tracks 1.25 miles or lower and road courses (18 for all other tracks)
– Drivers running for Cup points who have three full season of experience can run up to eight Truck races and 10 NOAPS races
Other small rule changes announced:
– Teams can make approved adjustments or refuel their vehicle when weather conditions are declared before the race starts
– NCTS drivers can stay in their vehicle while it’s being towed to the garage
A driver suspended by NASCAR will also not lose all of their bonus points to start the Chase. A driver will only lose all of their bonus points and start the Chase at 2,000 in Cup, 2,020 in NOAPS or 2,030 in NCTS if they’re granted a Chase waiver for an unapproved absence.
NASCAR also changed the metric for how a starting lineup is set for races if qualifying has to be cancelled. They also set the test schedule for all three series and unveiled the stage lengths, as follows:
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com