Early into the new NASCAR Cup Series’ Chase championship format, Ross Chastain has three words: “I don’t care.”
The five-time Cup series champion could care less about the formula NASCAR uses to determine its annual champion as long as he is allowed to continue to climb into his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and go fast.
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NASCAR switched in 2026 from a four-round elimination playoff format to a modified Chase for the Cup, a 10-race, points-based finale similar to what it used from 2004–2013 to determine its champion.
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Chastain was in Nashville on March 10, four races into the NASCAR Cup 2026 season.
“I don’t care,” said Chastain while attending the Tennessee Motorsports Takeover hosted by Bristol Motorspeedway and Nashville Superspeedway. “That’s the short answer because whatever they do, I’ll go race. Sign me up for whatever the France family and NASCAR want. If they want to flip everything upside down, it doesn’t matter to me. I just need the rulebook. Just give me the schedule, the rules for the cars, and the on-track procedures, and I’ll go race.”
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It is different for fellow Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who joined Chastain at the event and remembers the 10-race, non-eliminated shootout used before the last format.
“I got to run it early in my Cup career, and I think it’s the best way to crown a champion,” said Stenhouse, who is currently 27th in the point standings.”It’s still giving that playoff feel. We’ll reset it with 10 races to go, and we’ll gain as many points as we can up until that point. We’ve got some making up to do, but we’re still within grasp of that Chase format of being in the postseason.”
Why Ross Chastain doesn’t want to see Tyler Reddick back in victory lane
Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick are close friends. Reddick became the first NASCAR Cup driver in history to win the first three races of the season in 2026 when he won at Daytona, Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas.
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Enough is enough, Chastain said.
“At COTA, I didn’t go to victory lane to congratulate him because I was like, ‘I’m not happy for you anymore,” Chastain said, smiling. “Tyler and I are close. We go way back to the Truck series together over a decade ago. I am happy for him, but not happy enough to go say anything to him after three wins. I saw him at Phoenix (March 8) and said, ‘I’m not coming to see you anymore, I’m over you winning.’ “
How Michael Jordan’s exposure has helped NASCAR
One person who has been in victory lane with Reddick each time he has won has been NBA legend Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin. Reddick drives for 23XI racing.
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Having one of the world’s all-time greatest athletes linked to NASCAR has helped the sport, Stenhouse said.
“To win the first three is obviously huge for anybody to do in this day and age when the sport is so competitive,” Stenhouse said. “I think it was good for our sport. Michael Jordan obviously had a lot to do with a lot of eyes watching our sport those first four weeks. Then (Reddick) had a good run at Phoenix too.”
While Chastain may be wary of seeing Reddick win, he agrees that having Jordan splashed all over the broadcasts has benefited NASCAR.
“It’s incredible to have a sports icon like that associated with NASCAR, a guy that’s accomplished so much, and be successful not only in sports but also in business and life,” Chastain said. “Not that I know him. I’ve never had a conversation with him. I’ve never even shook his hand. I’d like to one day. When you have successful people be a part of what you’re doing, it’s always good. I think a rising tide raises all ships.”
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-or on X @MikeOrganWriter.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Ross Chastain said about NASCAR’s new Chase format
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