2026 NASCAR

[Dead2009]

NASCAR boss resigns amid backlash over texts

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the U.S. and a nasty federal trial in which inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue sharing negotiations were revealed.

www.espn.com

 

[wdwfan4ver]

NASCAR boss resigns amid backlash over texts

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the U.S. and a nasty federal trial in which inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue sharing negotiations were revealed.

www.espn.com

This isn't a surprise. There was bunch of private emails that came out during the Court hearing that was more than Richard Childress. The emails gave NASCAR a bad image and someone from NASCAR management had to leave due to those private emails.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

4th update. Stewart Friesen is now out for rest of the NASCAR season as expected. How his Truck series ride is being handled is Christopher Bell will be in the 52 at Watkins Glen and Kaden Honeycutt will take over the ride for rest of the season.

Also Stewart Friesen is now out of Hospital after 9 days according to his twitter account. The procedures to reconstruct his shattered pelvis and his right leg tibia and fibula went smoothly. Stewart Friesen has some extra plates, screws, rods, and pins as well as a fractured C7 and fractured left hip.

​

There is a recent update on him today. Stewart Friesen in an interview with Sirus XM Radio said will be racing in the truck series this year. He said his recovery is doing very well and is anticipating to race at Daytona next month.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Brad Keslowski is going miss the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1st due to his broken right femur and Corey Lajoie will be his replacement driver for the event.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

NASCAR is going to announce a new Championship format on Monday, January 12th at 3:30 p.m. eastern time.

 

[Dead2009]

NASCAR restores 'Chase' championship format

NASCAR will return to a 10-race championship format that closely resembles the very first iteration introduced 22 years ago.

www.espn.com

 

[wdwfan4ver]

NASCAR restores 'Chase' championship format

NASCAR will return to a 10-race championship format that closely resembles the very first iteration introduced 22 years ago.

www.espn.com

I've followed NASCAR since 1993. Ideally, I would want the old 36 race battle without a chase or playoffs, but this is the 2nd best thing.

This version of the chase if a little different than the one from 2004. I am saying that due to the point difference starting the chase is larger than it was 2004 with it being 25 point difference from 1st to 2nd in points.

I think having 25 point gap starting the chase from 1st place to 2nd place in points is a good move. I am saying that because I remembered fans during the chase era complained about the 48 team sandbagging during summer races. Having 25 point gap between first and second in points prevents turning races into test sessions.

I'm also happy the elimination rounds gone and getting a rid of the win and your in the playoffs is a great thing. Getting a rid of elimination rounds prevents stuff like Joey Logano as cup champion in 2024. Joey still would've made the chase in 2024, but not winning the championship. Joey in 2024 because cup champion despite averaging 17th place finish for all 36 races and only made the final round due to Alex Bowman's car flunked post race inspection.

Also getting a rid of the win and your in prevents stuff like drivers having a dismal season making it into the chase due to fluke win or prevent driver that had a season like Shane Van Gisbergen in 2025 being being in the chase. Shane Van Gisbergen in 2025 only made the playoffs due to his 4 road course wins. Shane in 2025 was great on road courses, but he couldn't get a top 10 on an oval till the 31st race of a season. Shane in 2025 was 24th in points at the end of the regular season despite his 4 road course wins.

Also Austin Dillion made the playoffs last year despite having a terrible year and that was due to his Richmond win despite being 26th in points after race 26. Having a chase prevented the season Austin had last year from being in the chase. The thing is what happened to Austin Dillion last year isn't new considering Harrison Burton in 2024 made the playoffs despite having only 2 top 10's in 36 races due to Harrison's Daytona win.

 

[artvandelay]

I've followed NASCAR since 1993. Ideally, I would want the old 36 race battle without a chase or playoffs, but this is the 2nd best thing.

This version of the chase if a little different than the one from 2004. I am saying that due to the point difference starting the chase is larger than it was 2004 with it being 25 point difference from 1st to 2nd in points.

I think having 25 point gap starting the chase from 1st place to 2nd place in points is a good move. I am saying that because I remembered fans during the chase era complained about the 48 team sandbagging during summer races. Having 25 point gap between first and second in points prevents turning races into test sessions.

I'm also happy the elimination rounds gone and getting a rid of the win and your in the playoffs is a great thing. Getting a rid of elimination rounds prevents stuff like Joey Logano as cup champion in 2024. Joey still would've made the chase in 2024, but not winning the championship. Joey in 2024 because cup champion despite averaging 17th place finish for all 36 races and only made the final round due to Alex Bowman's car flunked post race inspection.

Also getting a rid of the win and your in prevents stuff like drivers having a dismal season making it into the chase due to fluke win or prevent driver that had a season like Shane Van Gisbergen in 2025 being being in the chase. Shane Van Gisbergen in 2025 only made the playoffs due to his 4 road course wins. Shane in 2025 was great on road courses, but he couldn't get a top 10 on an oval till the 31st race of a season. Shane in 2025 was 24th in points at the end of the regular season despite his 4 road course wins.

Also Austin Dillion made the playoffs last year despite having a terrible year and that was due to his Richmond win despite being 26th in points after race 26. Having a chase prevented the season Austin had last year from being in the chase. The thing is what happened to Austin Dillion last year isn't new considering Harrison Burton in 2024 made the playoffs despite having only 2 top 10's in 36 races due to Harrison's Daytona win.

I like this. Glad to see they’ve made the change.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Tony Stewart is returning to NASCAR for racing in a Truck Series race at Daytona with Kaulig Racing.

 

[artvandelay]

Tony Stewart is returning to NASCAR for racing in a Truck Series race at Daytona with Kaulig Racing.

And in a Dodge!