SEEKONK SPEEDWAY INTRODUCES ADJUSTED SUNOCO DRIVE FOR THE CUP FORMAT FOR 2026

SEEKONK SPEEDWAY INTRODUCES ADJUSTED SUNOCO DRIVE FOR THE CUP FORMAT FOR 2026

SEEKONK, Mass. — Seekonk Speedway officials announced today a revised format for the 2026 Sunoco Drive For The Cup championship playoffs. The new format continues to emphasize that every single lap, from race one until the checkered flag, matters more than ever. The 2026 playoff format will include “The Final Four” in each one of Seekonk Speedway’s divisions, who will compete for the championship over the final four weeks of Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday. 

The Final Four are the top four in the championship standings at the end of the regular season (August 21-22). Seekonk Speedway has eliminated the one-race, winner-take-all portion of the playoffs. The track has replaced it with a combined points system over the four playoff events that will profile consistency, winning, and clutch performances from drivers all year, and in the final four weeks, to secure the championship. Drivers in the Final Four will also have the opportunity to carry bonus points from the regular season to help their title quest - with five bonus points provided to the points leader at the end of the regular season and one bonus point for each regular race win going to each of the Final Four members.

The one bonus point per victory will also apply during the four-week playoffs. Second through fourth in the championship standings at the end of the regular season will also earn bonus points going into the playoffs (3-2-1). 

The Seekonk Speedway Sunoco Drive For The Cup will take place on August 28-29, September 11-12, September 18-19 and September 25-26. 

“We feel this is a great direction to go with our Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday divisions championship format, and we’re excited to have Sunoco Race Fuels back as the title sponsor of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup for another year in 2026,” David Alburn, Competition Director at Seekonk Speedway, said. “We are confident this playoff system will reward those who are able to win races, excel all year, and pull out a clutch performance in the final few weeks, when they need it most. It was important to us to listen to our competitors, teams and fans. We have spoken to many stakeholders in the community before making this decision. We feel this adjustment puts our fans in a position to be able to see all championship battles go right down to the final lap of the season.”

Drivers will be awarded points after each playoff event, with four going to the highest finishing in that event, three to the second highest, then two, then one. At the end of the four weeks, the totals for competitors will be added together, and the points they entered the playoffs with will be added to that. The highest total wins the championship in each division. Although the Final Four in each division are the only drivers eligible to win the championship, drivers who are fifth on back entering the final four weeks will still have an opportunity to finish as high as second in the championship standings. Ties will revert back to Seekonk Speedway’s general tiebreaker rules to be broken. 

The playoff structure will determine only the champion - with the second-place finishing driver being the one who accumulated the most points during the entire season (from May through September). Third, fourth, fifth and beyond will also be set with the season-long standings. This is important - as drivers can still move up their positions in the point standings significantly over the final four weeks - even if they aren’t racing for the title. 

There are no rain dates available for the first three playoff events. If championship weekend rains out for either night, the rain date will be the following weekend. If there is no championship night, the champion will be decided based on playoff points to that point. 

For a full breakdown of Seekonk Speedway’s 2026 Sunoco Drive For The Cup championship format, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com, under Race Stuff and Fast Friday and NASCAR rules, and then the general rules. 

Seekonk Speedway’s 81st season of short-track racing is set to begin on Sunday, May 3. Tickets for all 2026 events are available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com.