NASCAR confirms notable 2026 rule change expanding Cup driver participation in lower series: Reports

A host of changes will be made to the NASCAR Cup Series drivers for the 2026 season. The Cup Series competitors' eligibility criteria for the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series, will change next year.

Over the past few years, Cup Series drivers have seemingly become more interested in competing in the two lower divisions while enjoying their full-time rides in the premier stock car series. Though the current drivers are only permitted to race in a maximum of five races each in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series, this cap will increase come 2026.

As per The Racer, NASCAR has confirmed that the Cup Series drivers from 2026 onwards would be able to participate in 10 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (now Xfinity Series), a doubling of the current limit. This ceiling has also been increased from five races in the Truck Series to eight races.

However, current restrictions of the Cup Series drivers being ineligible to participate in the regular-season finale and the playoff races are still upheld. This is to ensure that the feeder series provides the junior drivers enough track time to showcase their talent to the field.

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What did NASCAR's Managing Director say about making these alterations in the existing rules?

NASCAR Xfinity Series car at the Martinsville Speedway - Source: Imagn

NASCAR Cup Series drivers are the epitome of stock car racers. More often than not, whenever they participate in the races in the lower divisions, they end up winning such races, so why is the governing body letting these drivers compete in a series meant for junior drivers?

NASCAR's managing director of racing operations, Meghan Miley, revealed to RACER the reason behind such changes and said:

"We look at these eligibility requirements on a yearly basis and if it’s still making sense. We’ve made adjustments in the past. In 2025, we allowed Cup drivers to participate in Dash 4 Cash and the Triple Truck Challenge."

She added:

"When we looked again this year, as we always do, we felt that potentially expanding the eligibility of both of those series could benefit both competition and marketing. I think we hear a lot of the drivers love competing with the top talent; it’s a development series, and it’s important that they get that track time, and we’ve heard that time and time again on the driver's side.

"There are benefits from a marketing perspective and from more eyeballs on the sport, potentially, so I think it’s good from a track perspective and with our broadcast partners. Expanding it a little bit potentially creates a little bit more benefit for a number of our stakeholders."

Meanwhile, the 2025 Truck Series championship was rounded out recently, where Corey Heim was crowned the champion. All eyes will now turn to the Cup Series on Sunday (November 2).