Cliff Daniels Thinks the 2026 Chase Format is a Win for Kyle Larson

NASCAR is hitting the reset button in a major way for 2026, and if you’ve been following the sport for a while, this news feels like a blast from the past. The organization has confirmed the return of the 10-race “Chase” format, effectively scrapping the high-stress, elimination-style playoffs we’ve watched for over a decade. While some fans are still debating whether this is a step forward or backward, one garage seems pretty confident about the shift: the No. 5 team at Hendrick Motorsports.

Cliff Daniels, the crew chief who has guided Kyle Larson to two championships already, isn’t sweating the change. In fact, he thinks it plays right into their hands.

The logic is pretty simple: when you have a driver who is consistently fast everywhere, a system that rewards steady accumulation of points over ten weeks is often better than a system where one bad tire or a lucky caution flag decides your entire season in a single afternoon.

Here is a closer look at what Daniels is saying, how Larson feels about stepping into unknown territory, and why this format change might just secure the No. 5 team their third title.

1. A New Era (Or a Return to the Old One?)

To understand why Daniels is optimistic, you have to look at what’s actually changing. For the last 11 seasons, the championship came down to a “Game 7” moment. You had to survive elimination rounds, and then, in the final race, you just had to beat three other guys. It didn’t matter if you won 10 races earlier in the year; if you blew an engine in the finale, you were done. The 2026 switch brings back the cumulative 10-race battle. Consistency is king again. You can’t just “win and you’re in.” You have to perform week in and week out for two and a half months. For a team like Hendrick Motorsports, which usually fields cars that run up front every single week, this reduces the randomness. Daniels pointed out to reporters that the elimination format often felt like a coin toss, regardless of how good your car was. Now, the emphasis is back on sustained excellence—something the No. 5 team has in spades. Cliff Daniels has been the strategic mastermind behind Larson’s dominance, including his recent 2025 title. When speaking about the change, Daniels noted that their team’s biggest strength is their average finish. Even when they don’t win, they are usually running in the top five. Under the old elimination format, a crash at Talladega could knock you out of the playoffs entirely, even if you were the best car all season. Under the Chase format, one bad race is recoverable if you crush it for the other nine. Daniels knows that Larson is adaptable. Larson has never actually raced for a Cup title under this specific format—he joined the series in 2014, right when the elimination era began. But considering Larson wins in everything from sprint cars to midgets, adapting to a points battle isn’t likely to rattle him.

2. What Larson Has to Say About the Shift

It’s not just Daniels doing the talking. Kyle Larson himself has weighed in, admitting that while it’s a new challenge, it’s one he’s ready for. He told racing outlets that he’s “excited to try something new.” It’s an interesting perspective coming from a guy who mastered the old system. Remember, both of his championships (2021 and 2025) came down to clutch moments in the final race. In 2021, it was a legendary pit stop that got him out front. In 2025, it was a chaotic overtime restart. Larson thrives under pressure, but he also knows that relying on miracles in the final laps isn’t a sustainable business model. By moving to a 10-race aggregate, Larson and Daniels can focus on what they do best: setting up fast cars and driving away from the field, rather than worrying about a single “do-or-die” moment.

3. The Bigger Picture for Hendrick Motorsports

This change doesn’t just impact the No. 5 car. Daniels also highlighted how this benefits the entire Hendrick stable. Drivers like Chase Elliott and William Byron are known for their methodical, consistent driving styles. They rack up points. They finish races. In an elimination format, consistency doesn’t always pay off if you don’t get that flashy win at the right moment. In a Chase format, a driver like Elliott, who might finish 3rd, 4th, and 2nd over three weeks, becomes a massive threat. The internal competition at Hendrick is going to be fierce, but Daniels seems to believe that iron sharpens iron. The vibe heading into the 2026 season is going to be different. The “Game 7” excitement might be gone, replaced by a slow-burn intensity. Every lap of every playoff race matters now. You can’t take a week off. For Daniels and Larson, the strategy shifts from “survive and advance” to “total domination.” They don’t need to just win one race to move to the next round; they need to outscore the field for ten weeks straight. It’s a grueling test of man and machine, but looking at their track record, it’s a test they are more than qualified to pass. The 2026 season is shaping up to be a fascinating experiment in whether the “good old days” were actually better. But if you ask Cliff Daniels, the future looks pretty bright for the No. 5 team.

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