Getty The NASCAR Cup Series field races at Pocono Raceway on June 14, 2026. NASCAR's new playoff format has created a surprising situation in which one race winner currently sits outside the postseason field. For years, a NASCAR race win was essentially a golden ticket to the postseason. Not anymore. NASCAR’s revamped playoff format has introduced a new reality in 2026, and for the first time this season, it is creating a scenario that would have been almost impossible under the old system.