NASCAR Chase History (2004-2013)
The original Chase for the Championship format
The Chase for the Championship was NASCAR's postseason format from 2004 through 2013. After 26 regular-season races, the top drivers had their points reset and competed over the final 10 races for the Cup Series title. The format replaced the traditional full-season points battle that had crowned champions since 1949.
In 2014, NASCAR replaced the Chase with an elimination-style playoff bracket (2014-2025). For 2026, NASCAR has returned to a Chase-style format with 16 qualifiers and no eliminations. See the 2026 Chase rules for details on the current format.
All Chase Seasons
Kurt Busch edged Jimmie Johnson by 8 points in the inaugural Chase format, winning the title despite having fewer wins than several competitors.
Tony Stewart dominated the Chase with 5 wins in 10 races, pulling away from Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards for his second championship.
Jimmie Johnson won his first championship, beating Matt Kenseth by 56 points to begin an unprecedented run of five consecutive titles.
Jimmie Johnson won his second straight title as the Chase field expanded from 10 to 12 drivers for the first time.
Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive championship, extending Hendrick Motorsports' dominance under the new Sprint Cup branding.
Jimmie Johnson won his fourth consecutive title, tying Cale Yarborough's record of three straight and extending it to four in a row.
Jimmie Johnson completed an unprecedented five consecutive championships, cementing his status as one of NASCAR's greatest drivers.
Tony Stewart tied Carl Edwards on points and won the championship via the tiebreaker (more wins), ending Jimmie Johnson's five-year reign in one of the closest finishes ever.
Brad Keselowski gave Roger Penske his first Cup Series championship, holding off Clint Bowyer by 39 points in a season marked by consistency.
Jimmie Johnson won his sixth championship — and the last under the original Chase format — before NASCAR switched to the elimination-style playoffs in 2014.