January 19th 2026

NASCAR announces rulebook tweaks ahead of 2026 season

NASCAR has updated several sections of its rule book ahead of the 2026 season.

Included in the updates were wording on provisionals for new manufacturers, how NASCAR will handle waivers under its new postseason format and eligibility for the fastest-lap point. On the first point, Ram is making its return to NASCAR this year in the Craftsman Truck Series with five entries out of the Kaulig Racing camp.

NASCAR also added the 2026 stage lengths for Cup Series events to the rule book, along with the qualifying metric breakdown. Additionally, the wording regarding the minimum age in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (announced at the end of last year) was added.

Here are some of the most noteworthy race procedure elements from all of the updates:

OEM provisional

Up to four additional starting grid positions may be assigned to a new OEM vehicle for the first three events if the vehicle has not otherwise earned a starting grid position. New OEM vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions 37th-40th based on the speeds posted in the first qualifying round.

Fastest lap point

Once a car enters the garage during the race, that car will no longer be eligible to record the fastest lap. A fastest lap time recorded before entering the garage will remain eligible.

Cup Series driver eligibility

A driver earning Cup Series points will not be eligible to enter the last nine events of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season and last seven events of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Previously, Cup drivers were also ineligible for the regular season finale. That is no longer the case.

Waivers

If a waiver is granted for reasons other than a NASCAR-initiated and/or approved absence, the driver will begin The Chase with 2000 points (or 2020 and 2030 in NCTS and NOAPS, respectively). For example, a NASCAR-initiated absence could include a one-race suspension. Previously, a driver would start the postseason with 2000 points. With the change in format and elimination rounds no longer a part of the format, a suspended driver would no longer drop to 2000 points.

Here are the qualifying procedures: