Hauler Talk: Changes to fastest lap rule are on table for 2026
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NASCAR will consider altering its eligibility standards for awarding a point to the driver with the fastest lap after another last-place car earned the bonus at Darlington Raceway.
After wrecking in the second turn of the Southern 500, Josh Berry went to the garage for repairs that took several dozen laps. He returned to set the fastest lap (29.038 seconds) on the 1.366-mile oval despite completing only 239 of 367 laps in a 38th-place finish.
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During the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast, managing director of communications Mike Forde said NASCAR executives discussed a review of tweaking the fastest lap rule, possibly by making it necessary to be on the lead lap while setting the mark.
“I think that's some of the conversation in the offseason, nothing’s going to be changing over the next nine races, but that is something we plan to look at as we move forward into 2026,” Forde said.
Kyle Larson has earned the bonus point twice after returning to the track following major repairs to his No. 5 Chevrolet. He set the fastest laps despite finishing 42 laps down in 36th at Mexico City and 15 laps down in 39th at Watkins Glen. Having also set the fastest laps at Circuit of The Americas and Kansas, those four extra points helped Larson finish ahead of teammate Chase Elliott in the 2025 regular-season standings and gain an extra playoff point.
Just as Larson’s car went through postrace inspection scrutiny at Watkins Glen, Forde said Berry’s No. 21 Ford also passed body and underbody scans after Darlington to ensure its legality.
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Forde said “there are conversations on both sides” about whether to change the eligibility for the fastest lap, which helps incentivize teams to continue racing after being caught in an early crash or suffering a mechanical problem.
“Fans of Kyle Larson came out to watch him, and they want to continue seeing him strive and compete for something when you're double- or triple-digits laps down,” Forde said. “So there are good reasons to keep it in there.”
“I imagine if you ask the teams, they probably are for it. They’re competitors, and it gives them something to race for ... no one's knocking down the doors of the hauler to gripe about it.”
Other topics covered by Forde and NASCAR senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis during the 31st episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
-- How NASCAR officiated the overtime restart of the Xfinity Series race at Portland International Raceway after race winner Connor Zilisch missed the first turn and several drivers missed the second corner.
-- Whether NASCAR will make any policy changes after the latest instance of a driver stop in another team’s pit stall for service.
-- The new Goodyear tire this weekend for World Wide Technology Raceway after getting tested in June.