UPDATE: NASCAR today announced that beginning in 2026, the following updates to driver eligibility will take effect across the NASCAR National Series.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Eligibility – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series/NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
NOAPS
- NCS drivers with 3+ years of fulltime NCS experience – max 10 races per season
- NCS drivers ineligible for NOAPS Cut-off, Playoff Races and Championship
NCTS
- NCS drivers with 3+ years of fulltime NCS experience – max 8 races per season
- NCS drivers ineligible for NCTS Cut-off, Playoff Races and Championship race
- NOAPS drivers are ineligible for NCTS Championship race
Minimum Age Requirements- NOAPS
- In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the minimum age will move to 17 years old at road courses and tracks measuring 1.25 miles or less
- 18 at Tracks > 1.25 mi
— NASCAR —
ORIGINAL POST: NASCAR confirmed to RACER that it is expanding driver eligibility requirements for Cup Series competitors running in its two lower divisions next season.
Cup Series drivers with more than three years of full-time experience will be allowed to enter a maximum of 10 races in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026 – an increase from the existing five race limit.
In the Craftsman Truck Series, Cup drivers will be eligible to enter a maximum of eight races – also up from the current five races allowed.
NASCAR will keep certain restrictions in place, though. In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Cup drivers remain ineligible to compete in the regular-season finale and postseason races. The same restrictions also continue to apply for those Truck Series races.
Additionally, NASCAR is raising the minimum age requirement for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to 17 at road courses and ovals of 1.25 miles or less. By doing so, NASCAR’s age requirements will go in ascending order – 16 years old to make a start in the Truck Series, 17 years old to do so in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and 18 years old to do so in the Cup Series.
See more at Racer.