Stages. Love them or hate them, since NASCAR introduced Stages in 2017, they have played a significant role across all three national series. With a Playoff Point payout for winning, and a total of 55 points paid out each stage, both the points and Playoff Points made and broken championship runs. Playoff Points carried over to each cut, but the Stage Points evaporated.

In 2026, NASCAR killed off the elimination playoff format and reintroduced the Chase. Gone are the days of losing your Stage Points; they follow each driver to the end of the Regular season, and each point earned during the Chase follows the drivers to Homestead-Miami. On the other end, Playoff Points are gone.

Each Stage will continue to pay 10 Points to the stage winner, 9 to second, 8 to 3rd and so on, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Therefore, if a driver can amass enough Stage Points, they can hold a firm advantage over a driver who may have better finishes but less consistent average running positions.

Looking at this possibility, stages feel more important in NASCAR than ever before.

A prime example of the Stage Points is Bubba Wallace, with 29 Stage Points so far in 2026. Wallace has finished P. 8 in both races so far this season; however, those Stage Points keep him close to the Series Points lead. Kyle Larson even unintentionally wrecked himself and Shane van Gisbergen over Stage Points in Stage 2 at EchoPark Speedway.

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