NASCAR underwent a major change in the 2026 season when it brought back The Chase format. Responding to Matt Weaver during the pre-race press conference of the eero 400, Kyle Larson and William Byron spoke about how the current championship format and the addition of 15 extra points for race wins have impacted their racing approach. 

Byron went first, stating that the system still places a significant reward on winning, which he believes has made the field more conscious of points. However, addressing the belief that the racing mindset has changed considerably, he also noted that the races remain highly chaotic and aggressive, particularly in the middle of the pack, for the fight for position.

“I think there's a lot of reward for winning races," Byron said (via Cup Scene on YouTube). "You know, we've always tried to get as many points as we can. I think it's made that more conscious through the field, but we've still seen a lot of chaotic races, too, where, you know, it seems like the emotions of the race and kind of being in the middle of the pack is just even more chaotic than ever, just the way the Next Gen races, like you just have to be really aggressive to get track position.”

The debate over the expected changes in racing began when The Chase was announced earlier this year. With the 'win-and-in' now gone, drivers would have to prioritize consistently earning points instead of going all out for potential wins and causing wrecks in doing so.

Kyle Larson, however, emphasized that he does not feel that the importance of points is greater now than in previous formats. He highlighted how the racing hasn't changed, but appreciated the improved accessibility of the current system.

“I will say, though, that what I've appreciated throughout it is I can pull up Jayski right after the race and see the points and like actually know where everybody's at," the reigning Cup champion said. "It was really confusing. Before, the old system, you basically just waited till after Daytona, and you see where you're at.

"So, now it's fun to follow along, see what drivers are around the cutoff to make the chase, and all of that. So, yeah, you pay attention to the points more, but I wouldn't say the points are any more important than they were, and the racing has not changed."

While The Chase is still a short way away, what the HMS duo have on their hands right now is the $1 million In-Season Challenge.

The in-season challenge between Larson and Byron

The In-Season Challenge is a 32-driver, single-elimination tournament contested during the Cup Series. At Chicagoland, the two HMS drivers found themselves competing directly against one another for the eventual $1 million prize.

Larson said, “I mean, I was hopeful to see somebody worse than William when I saw the matchup. But I mean, I think it honestly just right now it's just cool to have something like this going on in the middle of the season and a chance to advance and try to execute solid finishes and have a chance at a million dollars.” 

Larson's pursuit of the prize in 2025 ended after he got caught up in a wreck at Atlanta. However, he explained that the challenge was just an added bonus and not the focus.

Byron seconded that sentiment, adding:

“I mean, I think it's just like not get too consumed with it. Just, you know, for us, we're trying to get a bunch of points this weekend. We're pretty far down, so just, um, got to get things rolling. And, um, you know, I feel like Kyle always runs well at 1.5-mile ovals."

On Sunday, William Byron came out on top in this matchup, finishing fourth in the race. Whereas Kyle Larson finished two laps down and in 34th place.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Yash Kotak