NASCAR Chase shifts to points-based qualification system for 2025
NASCAR's 2025 Chase now uses points-based qualification, reshaping how drivers earn playoff spots.
Event / Sports
NASCAR Chase Qualification 2025
Ryan Preece won the Daytona Cup Series race on August 30, 2025, securing the final spot in the NASCAR Chase championship series. The race featured a 14-car overtime crash and marked the first year Chase qualification was determined entirely by points rather than the 'win and in' format.
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2026-08-30 to 2026-11-07 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 30 Aug, 08:49 UTC
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What happened
Daniel Suarez finishes second at Daytona, Michael McDowell third
Daniel Suarez finished in second place and Michael McDowell in third place at the Daytona NASCAR Cup Series race. Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five.
Ryan Preece wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona in overtime
Ryan Preece, driving for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway in overtime with a last-lap pass. Preece took the lead from Zane Smith, who spun from first place after contact with Tyler Reddick. The race ended under yellow after a 14-car crash. Preece led only five laps total in the race.
Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones involved in late-race incident
Carson Hocevar spun in turn 3 with five laps remaining in regulation, collecting Erik Jones and sending the race into overtime. Hocevar finished 38th and Jones finished 39th.
Shane van Gisbergen misses NASCAR Chase after 27th-place finish
Shane van Gisbergen, who entered the Daytona race with a 31-point lead for the final Chase spot, finished 27th after winning the first stage. He missed the Chase by 16 points, despite having been competitive throughout the season and matching his teammates' performance on oval tracks.
Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric secure Chase spots at Daytona
Bubba Wallace finished 20th and Austin Cindric finished 6th at Daytona, with both drivers clinching spots in the NASCAR Chase. Cindric also earned a Chase spot with his strong finish, joining Preece as confirmed participants in the championship run.
Ryan Preece becomes 25th first-time winner at Daytona
Ryan Preece became the 25th first-time winner at Daytona International Speedway and the fifth first-time winner in the past nine summer races on the 2.5-mile oval.
Ryan Preece clinches final spot in NASCAR Chase championship
Ryan Preece secured the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Chase, a 10-race championship run beginning September 6 at Darlington Raceway. The Chase field was set entirely by points, without the 'win and in' format used from 2014-2025. Preece made up a 31-point deficit to Shane van Gisbergen by earning stage points, winning the race with a 17-point cushion over the cutoff.
NASCAR Chase format changes to points-based system
The 16-driver NASCAR Chase field for 2025 was set entirely by points, replacing the elimination playoffs format used from 2014-2025 that featured a 'win and in' format tying championship-eligible berths to victories.
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2 alternative perspectives
Wallace, Cindric, Suarez Secure Chase Spots; Van Gisbergen Falls Short
Wallace and Cindric qualified for the Chase; van Gisbergen's 27th-place finish eliminated him from playoffs.
Preece Wins Daytona Overtime Thriller, Secures Chase Spot
Ryan Preece wins Daytona in overtime, clinches final NASCAR Chase spot.