The NASCAR championship format is set for a significant change in 2026, but as the Chase kicks off, three prominent drivers are making headlines for a unique achievement in the Next Gen era. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Joey Logano have each secured five postseason victories since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, according to NASCAR Insights.
This impressive feat positions them at the forefront of the Cup Series as they head into the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the opening race of the 2026 Chase. This event marks the beginning of a 10-race series that will ultimately determine the champion for this season.
In addition to the trio's accomplishments, Christopher Bell is not far behind, having recorded four postseason wins. The current standings for postseason victories since the Next Gen's debut are as follows:
- Ryan Blaney: 5
- Kyle Larson: 5
- Joey Logano: 5
- Christopher Bell: 4
- Denny Hamlin: 3
- Tyler Reddick: 3
While many notable drivers appear on this list, the paths taken by Blaney, Larson, and Logano to reach this point have been quite distinct. Logano has successfully transformed his postseason performances into championships, having won the Cup Series titles in 2022 and 2024. Blaney, who claimed the championship in 2023, has continued to solidify his reputation as one of the most formidable competitors as the season progresses.
Larson's five postseason victories are particularly significant as he enters the 2026 Chase as the defending Cup Series champion, having secured the 2025 title under the previous elimination format. This season, he will have the opportunity to defend his title in a new structure that emphasizes cumulative points over elimination.
As the Chase unfolds, the implications of these victories have shifted due to the new championship format. Although the races will still encompass the final 10 events of the NASCAR schedule, the elimination system that characterized previous postseasons has been discarded. All 16 drivers in the Chase will now compete across all 10 races, with cumulative points determining the champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
This change means that while winning remains crucial, it no longer guarantees advancement to subsequent rounds, as there are no automatic berths into later stages of the Chase. Blaney enters the Chase seeded second with 2,075 points, while Larson starts in seventh with 2,045 points, and Logano begins in ninth at 2,035 points. They are all in pursuit of regular-season champion Denny Hamlin, who opens with 2,100 points.
Notably, Hamlin, despite being the top seed, has only three postseason wins, placing him further down the Next Gen wins leaderboard alongside Tyler Reddick. Bell, with four wins, is in a position to potentially tie the trio at the top if he secures a victory at Darlington.
Darlington Raceway, known for its challenging layout that punishes mistakes, sets the stage for what promises to be an intense start to the Chase. With every point carrying over through all 10 races, there is no early round to reset or recover from. For Blaney, Larson, and Logano, the opportunity to make history in the Next Gen era is within reach, as the first driver to win again will become the sole leader in postseason victories for this new chapter in NASCAR.
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