NASCAR explains schedule modifications, addresses issues round Watkins Glen date change

The 2026 schedule for all three nationwide divisions is out, and between the Dover All-Star Race, a return to Chicagoland, and a North Wilkesboro factors race, there’s so much to have a look at. 

In a Wednesday media availability, NASCAR govt vp and chief venue and racing innovation officer, Ben Kennedy, in addition to managing director, competitors operations, Jusan Hamilton, addressed the various modifications as they sit up for the brand new 12 months.

Dover All-Star Race

NASCAR confirmed that the Dover race will “greater than doubtless” be a day race, because the monitor has no everlasting lights. 

“We labored with Speedway Motorsports on the shift there,” defined Kennedy. “A part of it was making an allowance for whether or not shifting them into Could felt prefer it was a greater time of 12 months from no less than a warmth perspective, and we thought-about a handful of different tracks as effectively. We felt like that one was the perfect.

“Quite a few issues, simply as we take into consideration every considered one of these strikes, and Dover was the best choice that we had for ’26.”

Dover is basically swapping locations with North Wilkesboro on the schedule, however this leaves Dover with no factors race. To mitigate that, there can be points-paying races for Xfinity and Truck Collection at Dover that very same weekend.

Considerations about Watkins Glen climate

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

One other query mark on the brand new schedule is the plan to race at Watkins Glen Worldwide on Could 9-10. The race has by no means run that early within the 12 months, and a few assume the risky climate and early season slot could damage attendance. Nonetheless, NASCAR management disagrees.

“I am from Ithaca, New York, so I spent a number of time at Watkins Glen, and I feel the primary time I went to the Glen was in all probability 1995 or 1996,” mentioned Hamilton. “It will undoubtedly be a change to have that race happen in Could.

“The cool factor about having the race happen that point of 12 months, college continues to be in session, the inhabitants of central New York is way increased that point of 12 months, so you will have the chance to doubtlessly attain a fan demographic up there that is usually not round in the course of the summer season. So far as climate goes, you look — we take a look at a number of information in any respect our venues, and climate is at all times actually a consideration. You look at the moment of the 12 months, it says on common decrease 70s in the course of the day, likelihood of rain is comparatively low even in comparison with August. The info that we have checked out.

“I can inform you from expertise, I do not wish to — my private expertise to be what dictates our strikes ever, however being up there lately in Could, (you) nonetheless have people that dwell in that space, it usually appears like summer season in Could. I do not see an enormous danger in having the race that point of 12 months. I feel the climate for tenting must be nice, and I feel we’ll be capable of placed on a extremely good present that point of 12 months. Once more, the necessary factor is having the ability to attain a fan demographic up there and be sure that we’re doing what we have to do for the northeast fan, which that is the place I come from, so actually have a ardour for ensuring we ship there.”

Placing Vans with IndyCar at St. Pete

Scott McLaughlin, Staff Penske

Picture by: Penske Leisure

For the primary time within the historical past of the NASCAR Truck Collection, they’ll race at a road course in 2026. In truth, they’ll do it twice with the addition of the San Diego race, however earlier than that, they’ll be a part of IndyCar’s season-opening weekend at St. Pete.

NASCAR defined that their companions at FOX Sports activities, who maintain the published rights to each races, have been intently concerned on this determination. 

“There’s a number of collaboration that takes place anytime we hyperlink collectively on joint occasions like that,” mentioned Hamilton. “It is also one other alternative for us to be taught and develop with road course racing, as I discussed. It is the primary road course occasion in 30 years, within the 30-year historical past of the Truck Collection.

“Having that occasion on their schedule and ensuring that our improvement collection have races on their schedule which are conducive to what we’re doing with our premier collection within the NASCAR Cup Collection can also be essential. These drivers in improvement, at some point their objective is to get to NASCAR Cup Collection, and to have the ability to get expertise on a road course in considered one of our decrease tier collection can also be essential. All of that I’d say performs into that call.”

NASCAR officers additionally expressed a need to work extra intently with IndyCar sooner or later, opening the door for extra mixed weekends.

No races within the Pacific Northwest

Normal view of Portland Oregon

Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos

With Portland falling from the NASCAR Xfinity Collection schedule, there can be no national-level races in that area of the nation subsequent 12 months. Nonetheless, collection officers stay excited by increasing their presence there. 

“Yeah, we might like to be within the Pacific Northwest in some unspecified time in the future,” mentioned Kennedy. “I feel we have mentioned this a pair instances: We’re at all times new markets we might go and discover sooner or later, and the Pacific Northwest has at all times been excessive on our checklist. Whether or not that is the Seattle space, the Portland area, or I’d even toss Colorado, regardless that it isn’t on the West Coast, Colorado is one other market that we want to go and discover sooner or later.

“Despite the fact that we cannot have Portland again on the schedule subsequent 12 months, (we) nonetheless have a number of good relationships, each with Inexperienced Savoree, who’s going to be the promoter of the St. Pete occasion in February, however then a handful of different monitor homeowners and operators within the Pacific Northwest area. We have had a number of conversations with them. Nothing has come to fruition fairly but, however would like to have a possibility to have a Cup Collection occasion up there sooner or later.”

Getting Chicagoland race-ready

Kyle Busch wins, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos

Chicagoland Speedway returns to the Cup schedule in 2026, but it surely hasn’t hosted a NASCAR race since 2019. The intermediate oval wants slightly upkeep to get it prepared for a race on Fourth of July weekend in 2026.

NASCAR has already despatched a facility improvement group out to the monitor to look it over. Kennedy famous that the SAFER Barrier foam must be changed in some areas, in addition to another minor touchups.

“I feel the excellent news is it is comparatively race-ready, so we’ll in all probability have to switch a number of the SAFER foam, defined Kennedy. “We’ll in all probability must put a recent coat of paint on it, clear up a number of the grandstands, (and) renovate a number of the suite areas. There’s some parking areas that have to be repaved. We will have an extended checklist of enhancements that we’ll have to make to the ability, and we’ll make that effectively upfront of the time that we come there in July.”