Confirming NASCAR is leaning towards tweaking its Cup Sequence Playoffs, chief working officer Steve O‘Donnell mentioned it‘s a digital certainty that the placement of the title race will change.
Through the inaugural episode of the brand new “Hauler Speak” podcast, O‘Donnell mentioned the deep dive into the playoffs that NASCAR is taking this yr with an industrywide committee, highlighting a rotation of the championship as an integral a part of the dialog.
“It’s extra difficult than simply waving a checkered flag and say, ‘Let’s transfer the championship,‘ however I do assume a rotation goes to be actually necessary for us,” O‘Donnell mentioned. “If (a driver has) received 45 Phoenix races in a row and the championship is there, it‘s in all probability not an excellent search for the game, proper? And we’ve had an excellent combination (of champions at Phoenix). However I feel a rotation is what the followers would love.
“Faculty soccer and the NFL (have) that rotation (of championship video games) and anticipation of a brand new venue. I feel you’ll see that with NASCAR as effectively.”
What tracks are on the title rotation want listing?
O‘Donnell primarily dominated out superspeedways (which lack help from drivers and groups) and added that highway and road programs “could be a bit powerful.” That leaves quick tracks and intermediates as truthful recreation — and never essentially simply these which can be in warm-weather locations within the fall.
O‘Donnell mentioned the success of the Cook dinner Out Conflict with winter temperatures within the 40s at Bowman Grey Stadium proved that “individuals will present up if it‘s thrilling sufficient and it‘s not snow and rain.”
“Wherever we will placed on an incredible race,” he mentioned. “I feel any oval the place we will pull it off. The largest factor for us is having the championship ambiance round that neighborhood as effectively. It’s one factor to have a race, however you want passionate race followers, you want a sold-out venue and also you want the neighborhood to embrace it. I feel there’s plenty of alternatives for us in plenty of completely different locations to take a look at that.”
There additionally has been hypothesis concerning the future web site of The Conflict, which raced at a sold-out Bowman Grey as its third venue previously 5 years. O‘Donnell hopes there will probably be a second consecutive yr in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (“I’d wish to see us return there in 2026 and reward the followers who confirmed up”) however mentioned NASCAR may need two main choices for its Conflict tracks after that.
“You could possibly go worldwide or you can use that very same mannequin of going to a brief monitor within the U.S.,” O‘Donnell mentioned. “The place NASCAR is available in, rewards that monitor and their rivals for what they’re doing and makes some upgrades to the power that we depart for the subsequent technology of racers. After which we keep for a bit bit and transfer on to the subsequent one. So I feel a mixture of each of these can be actually cool. I actually like the thought of NASCAR coming in and investing within the quick tracks.”
The way forward for The Conflict will probably be decided by collaborative deliberation, similar to the potential playoff adjustments for the 2026 season.
NASCAR is forming a working group that may embody drivers, workforce homeowners, producer representatives, media and followers to beat up concepts in a fashion much like the business committee that produced stage racing and playoff factors launched in 2017.
O‘Donnell mentioned all the things is on the desk for the playoffs, from factors format to the race monitor lineup to how the rounds are structured (similar to figuring out the champion over a number of races).
“We might find yourself precisely the place we’re, however I don’t assume so,” he mentioned. “I feel there’ll be some tweaks that we take a look at that we will enhance upon. There’s plenty of completely different variables to take a look at to ensure we’re crowning the drivers who win and are up on the wheel, and we will inform a narrative that they’re deserving of being a NASCAR champion.”
In mild of Chase Elliott‘s latest proclamation that “I‘m undecided there‘s a extra necessary choice that we will make in simply how we crown our champion yearly and ensuring that we‘re not ever doing that the improper method,” O‘Donnell mentioned legitimacy can be burdened within the discussions.
“I nonetheless stand by Joey Logano as a three-time champion, however we would like to try how we will steadiness that,” he mentioned. “In order that the Kyle Larsons of the world really feel like this can be a place I wish to race for the remainder of my profession as a result of If I’m up on the wheel and I’m successful, I’m going to be rewarded for that.”
Through the debut of the Hauler Speak podcast, which is able to discover competitors points in NASCAR with Mike Forde and Amanda Ellis of the communications division, O‘Donnell additionally mentioned:
— His upbringing within the Center East and the way it impacted his worldview and as an adjudicator of disputes in NASCAR;
–The feelings of being within the scoring tower;
— The nuances of NASCAR listening to everybody‘s opinions with out agreeing with all of them.
