Connor Zilisch might be the only NASCAR Cup Series driver who can say the following.
“It was a long time ago. I’ve seen videos and stuff, but I don’t have much memory of it,” he told the News-Journal.
No, at 19 years old and three years younger than anyone else in the Cup Series, he doesn’t really remember the sport’s first stint using “The Chase” as its postseason format. The Chase was instituted in 2004, two years before Zilisch’s 2006 birth. Its final season occurred in 2013 when Zilisch was 7.
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But now, he’ll receive an up close and personal look at it.
On Monday, Jan. 12, NASCAR announced a return to that system, ending the four-round, winner-take-all playoffs it has used since 2014. The move arrived after more than a year of internal conversation — and fan outrage directed at the old format.
The top 16 drivers in points at the end of the 26-race regular season will gain entry, and points will be adjusted based on position in the standings. From there, they’ll compete in a 10-race Chase. Whoever has the most points at the end is the champion.
No eliminations. And drivers can no longer guarantee postseason berths with a regular-season win.
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“I definitely think all drivers are pretty excited about this — just the legitimacy of crowning a champion,” Zilisch said. “I certainly think that, in the long run, this is for sure a better way to go. I think it’s good for everybody. I think a lot of people are excited. The fans are excited, and it’s certainly going to help put us back in a spot where the champions that we crown are 100%. All the fans can be appreciative of it, and there’s not going to be any controversy around it going forward.”
That last sentence might be a stretch. Controversy is always possible, and a loud contingent of hardcore fans wanted a comeback of the season-long points battle.
But many drivers and fans felt the Chase represented a good compromise when the news dropped Monday.
NASCAR’s best prospect, Connor Zilisch, will enter his rookie season in the Cup Series with a new playoff format.
NASCAR pulled all the Cup Series drivers onto a call that morning to inform them of the switch before the broadcast announcement that afternoon. It didn’t shock Zilisch. He had heard rumblings about the Chase returning throughout the offseason.
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For him, it came one offseason too late.
If the Chase was in place for 2025, Zilisch would’ve claimed the Xfinity Series title. He set a circuit record for wins in a season with 10. He finished in the top five in five of the seven postseason races, including one victory and two runners-up.
But he placed third in the winner-take-all finale. Afterward, he sat on the ground next to his car with tears in his eyes.
“Yeah, the thought crossed my mind (when the new format was unveiled), but it’s one of those things you can’t really think about,” Zilisch said. “You’ve kind of just got to move on from it after it happens. It certainly was a tough couple days for me, losing that championship. But those are the things in life that are just going to happen. You’ve just got to kind of let it go.”
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Now, he enters his rookie campaign in the Cup Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing. He remains the sport’s best prospect.
And regardless of playoff format, he doesn’t think his approach will change.
“Our goal, no matter what the playoff format is, is to go out and win each weekend,” Zilisch said. “I think that goal remains the same. It’s going to be exciting to see how it all plays out.”
When is the 2026 Daytona 500?
The new NASCAR season will commence with the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. The green flag is scheduled for shortly after 2:30 p.m. The race will air on Fox.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Connor Zilisch supports Chase as new NASCAR playoff format
