In a teleconference on Tuesday, NASCAR supplied perception into what’s in play and what’s out of the query as a part of their rotating season finale. The monitor has to examine just a few containers which embody a robust on-track product, a great local weather for early November, and naturally, being positioned in a sexy market. However one other side of that’s discovering a venue that greatest displays the general schedule and avoiding ‘wildcard’ tracks.
ending Phoenix’s six-year run because the title-decider for all three nationwide divisions. It is going to mark the start of a rotating finale with varied tracks serving because the host location from year-to-year.
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Homestead hosted the finale from 2002 by 2019 earlier than the shift to Phoenix occurred — the longest consecutive run of any monitor. Within the teleconference, NASCAR Govt Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Improvements Officer, Ben Kennedy revealed that rotating finale will focus primarily on intermediate tracks and even quick tracks.
No superspeedways and highway programs
Kennedy dominated out the concept of using a superspeedway or highway course for the championship race within the speedy future, however he did not fully shut the door.
“By no means say by no means, however I believe we have unanimously agreed that it must appear and feel like what we might count on conventional NASCAR racing to appear and feel like,” defined Kennedy when requested about probably taking the finale to Daytona. “Brief tracks, intermediate tracks, mile tracks are all on the board. Superspeedways, I believe all of us really feel like proper now we would not think about that as a championship venue, not that Daytona is not a championship caliber venue.
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“There are a whole lot of story strains that come out of these occasions, and we need to make it possible for, after we go to Homestead, Miami, or Phoenix or wherever it could be sooner or later, that there’s a lot of technique and that a whole lot of our championship drivers are additionally contending for the victory on the finish of that race.
“We talked about that. We have talked about highway programs as properly. Once more, by no means say by no means, however highway programs are most likely decrease on the listing as we take into consideration championship venues. So we’re actually going to hone in on quick tracks and I’d say mile-and-a-halfs for now.”
Final-lap crash, Daytona 500 (Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce; Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing; Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing; Austin Cindric, Workforce Penske; Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports)
Final-lap crash, Daytona 500 (Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce; Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing; Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing; Austin Cindric, Workforce Penske; Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports)James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
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NASCAR would not go so far as to say that any monitor is absolutely excluded, however they did admit that tracks equivalent to Michigan and New Hampshire doubtless aren’t ultimate because of the time of 12 months and their geographical location.
“I do not suppose something is a nonstarter per se at this level,” mentioned Kennedy. “We do need to make certain we’re attempting to keep away from extreme moist climate disruptions on the occasion weekend. Whether it is as far north as a New Hampshire or a Michigan, for example, we’ll have a look at over 30 years of previous climate historical past on that date and that weekend to make it possible for we’re limiting our dangers as a result of a whole lot of followers will come and camp out for that whole weekend, a whole lot of followers that may drive to see the race, after which many followers that may tune in on TV as properly.
“If we’ve snow on the bottom or it is under freezing temperature, followers do not need to come out for a weekend to a championship venue, and it’s kind of of a problem. We’ll be considerate about that. I do not suppose it guidelines out any venues or tracks per se, however it’s a part of our consideration set.”
Snow falling on Martinsville Speedway
Snow falling on Martinsville SpeedwayNASCAR Media
NASCAR Media
Tracks NASCAR would not personal could also be within the working
Kennedy additionally famous that tracks outdoors of the scope of ISC (NASCAR possession) could also be thought of as properly, equivalent to Speedway Motorsports’ Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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“I believe something is on the desk at this level, to be sincere, whether or not it is NASCAR property or elsewhere,” mentioned Kennedy. “The nice half about it’s we’ve a great relationship with Speedway Motorsports, they usually have many distinguished occasions within the playoffs, cutoff races on the Charlotte oval and Bristol and a handful of others.
“Nothing to report at the moment on precisely the place we might be contemplating or the place these properties could be, however I believe all playing cards are on the desk at this level.”
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Pictures
Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
NASCAR additionally intends to be faster with its schedule reveal shifting ahead. Final 12 months, it wasn’t till the top of August when the 2025 schedule was confirmed.
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“We would favor to — I’d say two elements to this,” started Kennedy. “We would choose to announce it sooner after which even have or not it’s annual and as a separate sort of standalone announcement as properly.
“Our purpose is to maneuver up the announcement of the 2026 schedule for this 12 months. I believe our purpose can also be to maneuver up the announcement of the place the championship location goes to be for 2027 and have its personal second within the highlight and within the solar as Homestead-Miami does at the moment.
“I believe that provides us the flexibility — there’s a whole lot of content material, a whole lot of story strains which might be popping out at the moment in regards to the championship race shifting all the way down to Homestead-Miami Speedway. There are going to be a whole lot of different moments that we’ll have from now till November of ’26 of the emblem unveil, the leisure, the whole lot else that is going to occur and transpire round that weekend, and actually reimagining what the Championship Occasion seems like at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”
To summarize, he added: “I need to transfer up the announcement of the championship location, nonetheless have it as a standalone announcement, after which I believe additionally, to reply your query, is have this be yearly as an alternative of asserting two or three or 4 without delay.”
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