2026 NASCAR Schedule

HoneyBadger said:
I'd argue that the Daytona 500 already isn't the opener ever since they moved the Clash away from Daytona. The Clash feels less like a preseason exhibition and more like an actual race now.

Daytona's identity wasn't that it was the opener, it was that it's "the Super Bowl of Stock Car racing." Except NASCAR literally has a "Super Bowl" now.

And honestly, it's lost a lot of appeal being such a crapshoot that anyone can win.
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I dont hate this honestly. Daytona lost its Super Bowl feeling when they took Speedweeks away. Lost in all that was the Clash was the unofficial kickoff followed by qualifying for the 500 the next day and a week's worth of practice. I too think the Clash should be at Daytona, and if not well I wouldn’t shed a tear if it’s dropped. It’s so different from the purpose it was supposed to serve anyway : a race for the pole winners from the previous year.
 
The Clash should be run on Daytona's roval layout without the front-stretch chicane. If they did that, I'd watch again.
 
I'm going to watch it wherever it is, but I certainly would rather it not be at LA coliseum or bowman Gray. Cup cars have no business being on a track that is less than a half mile. My local track is a quarter mile and I love it but I would not want to watch cup cars there.
 
Jimbo Slice said:
The Clash should be run on Daytona's roval layout without the front-stretch chicane. If they did that, I'd watch again.
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I don't remember a front chicane at Daytona. Charlotte, yes; Daytona?

As to running the Clash on that layout, I'd rather see the second Daytona weekend on it. But I've built a reputation for favoring any alternative to pack racing. Hell, covering the whole thing with 2.5 miles of dirt a la Bristol would be better.
 
Surprisingly they had a pretty good race at Bowman Gray. Blaney was able to go from last to 2nd, yes car haters the car can pass on short tracks.
 
Daytripper said:
That's your opinion, mine is it was not a good race. Still better than no race.
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Still better than no race. On that we can agree. Nascar used a modified dirt track format to cut down the field fairly and properly for Bowman gray and that really helped on that small track. Having fenders instead of open wheels helped for passing. Eh, it was interesting to me, something different. Timing was good after a long no racing drought. How long before the majority of fans get tired of it? Who knows.
 
FLRacingFan said:
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Thanks. I'd completely forgotten that race and layout.
FLRacingFan said:
As it stands now, the Clash still has the fifth-highest TV audience of the season.
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It's early February and we're desperate. Fox could show Schrader and Herman pushing grocery carts around a Menard's lot street course and we'd tune in. But since these suckers are going to get run, run them for points. Keep Wilkesboro before the 600 and find a real track to host a points race instead of Bowman Gray.
 
Daytripper said:
I'm going to watch it wherever it is, but I certainly would rather it not be at LA coliseum or bowman Gray. Cup cars have no business being on a track that is less than a half mile. My local track is a quarter mile and I love it but I would not want to watch cup cars there.
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Nothing has any business being at Bowman Gray, to be fair. Aside from a bulldozer.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I don't remember a front chicane at Daytona. Charlotte, yes; Daytona?

As to running the Clash on that layout, I'd rather see the second Daytona weekend on it. But I've built a reputation for favoring any alternative to pack racing. Hell, covering the whole thing with 2.5 miles of dirt a la Bristol would be better.
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I think the last time I saw the Clash it was called the Busch Clash.
 
So the mechanism to get North Wilkesboro a points race may be to do a straight swap with…Dover. Can’t say I saw that one coming. A daytime ASR at a track that is best on long runs just does not sound like compelling TV. But maybe it’s worth it to simply get a points event back at NWB.

 
FLRacingFan said:
So the mechanism to get North Wilkesboro a points race may be to do a straight swap with…Dover. Can’t say I saw that one coming. A daytime ASR at a track that is best on long runs just does not sound like compelling TV. But maybe it’s worth it to simply get a points event back at NWB.

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North Wilkesboro getting a points race seems inevitable.

Dover eventually losing a race also seems inevitable. Especially if earlier reports that NASCAR is looking into racing in Philadelphia are true.

My guess is they'll have to bring in temporary lighting like they did at Wilkesboro in 2022 or even install LED lights because Fox Sports will want this race to be a night race.
 
FLRacingFan said:
So the mechanism to get North Wilkesboro a points race may be to do a straight swap with…Dover. Can’t say I saw that one coming. A daytime ASR at a track that is best on long runs just does not sound like compelling TV. But maybe it’s worth it to simply get a points event back at NWB.

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Oh my, an All Star Race at Dover would be straight cheeks. There would be almost no passing. The only way the leader gets passed at Dover is in traffic.
 
Dear god no. Dover is one of the most unique tracks on the schedule, this will be a death knell. The track never races like a shoot out track would in terms of passing and going for it. It was always a manage tires, Comers/Goers through the field and stick to strategy type of track. The absolute opposite of what is wanted at an all star race. What in the world are we doing here, the problem with schedule roulette that most clamor for every year is it opens up bs decisions like this. The North East/Mid Atlantic region will now have lost one Cup race each at New Hampshire, Pocono, Richmond and Dover ( Dover will be down now two Cup points races).That’s a head scratcher. I wanted Wilkesboro to come back but not like this, take it from COTA….Texas already has a race. At this point, kill the All Star race or put it back at Charlotte. Good grief.
 
Jorge De Guzman said:
Dear god no. Dover is one of the most unique tracks on the schedule, this will be a death knell. The track never races like a shoot out track would in terms of passing and going for it. It was always a manage tires, Comers/Goers through the field and stick to strategy type of track. The absolute opposite of what is wanted at an all star race. What in the world are we doing here, the problem with schedule roulette that most clamor for every year is it opens up bs decisions like this. The North East/Mid Atlantic region will now have lost one Cup race each at New Hampshire, Pocono, Richmond and Dover ( Dover will be down now two Cup points races).That’s a head scratcher. I wanted Wilkesboro to come back but not like this, take it from COTA….Texas already has a race. At this point, kill the All Star race or put it back at Charlotte. Good grief.
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Dover would be its usual self if they simply up the horsepower to a legitimate level. The cars are a lot like 305 sprints at Eldora, they just need more pop at the shorter tracks
 
FLRacingFan said:
So the mechanism to get North Wilkesboro a points race may be to do a straight swap with…Dover. Can’t say I saw that one coming. A daytime ASR at a track that is best on long runs just does not sound like compelling TV. But maybe it’s worth it to simply get a points event back at NWB.

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I hate this for several reasons.

I really like Dover; it's not the most entertaining, but that's not really the point; it's a unique track that's hard on the drivers and the races are meant to be long, sluggish and challenging, which is the whole fun of the track. So for one, I don't see how a short Dover race would be enjoyable. But also, nothing about Dover really screams "All-Star."

But second of all, they can **** all the way off with Dover losing its only points race, especially to throw in ANOTHER track in the southeast (to clarify, I'm for NW getting a points race, but not at the expense of one of our longest running, most unique tracks). Just take away a ****** Bristol or Vegas date, it's not that ****** hard. Or just scrap the ****** All-Star race anyway.

Also, both Dover and Iowa may be losing their only points races, meanwhile Phoenix still gets two. Just wanted that to be known. 🫠
 
DaleJrFan2003 said:
I hate this for several reasons.

I really like Dover; it's not the most entertaining, but that's not really the point; it's a unique track that's hard on the drivers and the races are meant to be long, sluggish and challenging, which is the whole fun of the track. So for one, I don't see how a short Dover race would be enjoyable. But also, nothing about Dover really screams "All-Star."
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100% agree and was just going to post the same. A five hour race at Dover is the bomb. A shoot out, naw.
 
I'm hoping that Fourth Of July Weekend race at Chicagoland is a night race complete with a post race fire works show for the fans but July 4th falls on a Saturday next year. If they really want to get bold, have it the day of July 4th but around 430 or so a dusk/night race.
 
DaleJrFan2003 said:
I hate this for several reasons.

I really like Dover; it's not the most entertaining, but that's not really the point; it's a unique track that's hard on the drivers and the races are meant to be long, sluggish and challenging, which is the whole fun of the track. So for one, I don't see how a short Dover race would be enjoyable. But also, nothing about Dover really screams "All-Star."

But second of all, they can **** all the way off with Dover losing its only points race, especially to throw in ANOTHER track in the southeast (to clarify, I'm for NW getting a points race, but not at the expense of one of our longest running, most unique tracks). Just take away a ****** Bristol or Vegas date, it's not that ****** hard. Or just scrap the ****** All-Star race anyway.

Also, both Dover and Iowa may be losing their only points races, meanwhile Phoenix still gets two. Just wanted that to be known. 🫠
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I'd swap a Phoenix or COTA race for Wilkesboro's points return but thats just me. Its a farce the All Star race is going to be at Dover talk about setting it up for failure , at this point just kill the All Star race off already.
 
I love Dover. But having the All-Star race there and no points race is not a good idea. They had a good crowd this year despite the heat.

I've said for a few years the All-Star race needs to go away. You already have something like that with The Clash. No need to have that twice when teams only get one week off.
 
MRM said:
I love Dover. But having the All-Star race there and no points race is not a good idea. They had a good crowd this year despite the heat.

I've said for a few years the All-Star race needs to go away. You already have something like that with The Clash. No need to have that twice when teams only get one week off.
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I agree. When they had the Danica and Dale Jr, they fudged it up so bad to get them in I lost interest a long time ago. It's no longer an All Star race but an exhibition. Use that date for a real point paying race.
 
I too am in the anti-All Star Race group. It’s the one race a year I don’t care about missing. It just doesn’t do anything for me. I went to Texas a few years ago just because I hadn’t been to an ASR. I wouldn’t spend the money again to go to one.
 
I like the idea of throwing Trucks and Xfinity drivers into the All Star race, along with the Cup qualifiers. Otherwise, I'll be on the beach somewhere that weekend.
 
A figure 8 would be an interesting all star race though. Maybe Tony would even come back for a one off. Does that count as a road course since they turn right? :XXROFL: ;)
 
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