Ahead of Friday’s on-track activity at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell conducted the sanctioning body’s “State of the Sport” address.
While the duo were honest about the challenges ahead for the sport, they also remained optimistic about where NASCAR is heading in the future.
“This sport has momentum in every area. We’re bullish on the future, realistic about the challenges, and confident we’ll keep growing, together,” Phelps said.
With an ongoing legal battle between NASCAR and two of its race teams, television ratings in a double-digit decline, and changes to the schedule, championship venue, and expected changes to the championship format in 2026, there were a lot of items for Phelps and O’Donnell to address.
In the interest of not losing you, here are some quick-hit, biggest takeaways that I drew from the availability:
As previously announced, NASCAR’s Championship Weekend heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026, beginning a rotation model for the season finale. While there has been speculation about what tracks will comprise the rotation, Phelps confirmed that Phoenix Raceway “will remain part of the rotation,” going forward.
Prior to the address, NASCAR added Freeway Insurance as a fourth Premier Partner in a multi-year deal, joining Coca-Cola, Busch Light, and Xfinity in 2026. Phelps says that sponsorship momentum is “the strongest in 15 years,” as he noted both team and league-level partners on the rise.
Additionally, Phelps says digital and social engagement for NASCAR’s social media channels hit record highs, fueled by new content efforts and data-driven fan targeting. A major catalyst, in Phelps’ opinion, was NASCAR’s new state-of-the-art production studio in Concord, NC, where the sanctioning body has been churning out content since it opened a year ago.
O’Donnell praised Goodyear’s tire development, saying tire wear and driver control “are back where they belong.” And while there is still more left to be desired with the on-track product with the Next Gen car, Goodyear has really been finding ways to bring about compelling on-track action with softer tire compounds this season.
NASCAR, which is set to increase Next Gen horsepower levels from 670 to 750 at short tracks and road courses in the Cup Series in 2026, will test new horsepower and aero packages this offseason at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
As expected, potential changes to the Playoff format were brought up, but no clear answers were given other than that next year’s format is still under discussion. No announcements on the championship format for next season will be made this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
NASCAR continues to weave “innovation and tradition” in its National Series schedules. For the 2026 season, North Wilkesboro Speedway will host its first NASCAR Cup Series points race since the 1996 season. Additionally, O’Donnell credited Speedway Motorsports for its gamble to take the All-Star Race to Dover next season. According to NASCAR, the pre-sales of tickets for the Dover All-Star Race have been strong.
A special military-themed race will run on a naval base to celebrate the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, and Phelps says the event is already NASCAR’s biggest pre-sale event ever.
Phelps addressed the ongoing charter agreement lawsuit by reading a prepared statement, but did not take open questions in regard to the legal situation.
The commissioner reiterated NASCAR’s commitment to the charter system through 2039, with $3B in guaranteed team payments and $1.5B in team enterprise value. Phelps also emphasized NASCAR’s reinvestment into the sport, amid antitrust litigation against them from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, and said the France family has “taken countless personal and financial risks” to sustain it.
While Judge Kenneth Bell, the lead attorney for the teams, Jeffrey Kessler, and the race teams themselves would likely disagree, Phelps described the case as “not an antitrust issue” and said NASCAR is “confident in its position” while still open to resolution. If a settlement is not reached between the two sides prior to the December 1st trial, it will be up to a jury to decide whether or not NASCAR has committed antitrust violations.
Phelps said that year one of the new seven-year media deal landed where NASCAR expected. NASCAR Cup Series ratings are down 14% in 2026, which Phelps said is “exactly what we predicted,” due to a planned shift toward cable and streaming.
While Cup, the premier NASCAR National Series, has seen a ratings sag, the NASCAR Xfinity (soon to be O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series overperformed, as it moved to The CW this season, a channel available on non-pay network TV nationwide.
Phelps said the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which saw almost no change to how it was televised this season as it remained on FS1/FOX, is about where it was prior to the new media rights agreement viewership-wise.
Overall, Phelps says NASCAR is drawing a younger audience through the 10 combined NASCAR Cup Series races that were televised on Amazon Prime Video and TNT. Phelps says the expectation is that ratings will stabilize and grow in 2026.
While the Next Gen car initially saw increased parity in the NASCAR Cup Series with the adaptation of the new car in 2022, O’Donnell says that NASCAR is monitoring competitive balance as powerhouse teams have dominated ovals and the Playoffs in 2025.
Discussions are underway on how to reintroduce team ingenuity without driving up costs, which, as we’ve seen, is always easier said than done. And as far as NASCAR’s Hybrid/electrification efforts, they have slowed as NASCAR and OEMs are now evaluating long-term alternatives(including hydrogen tech).
Phelps credited the Driver Ambassador Program, which was established in 2024, for increased driver participation in attempting to help grow and promote the sport. Drivers have logged more than 6,000 hours of driver appearances, which is an increase of 40% year-over-year.
Phelps also says that NASCAR will continue to “meet fans where they are” by using platforms like Roblox and YouTube (“RISING” series) to connect with younger fans.
Ram returns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, ending a 13-year hiatus from the sport. According to Phelps, discussions are ongoing for expansion with Ram/Dodge to other series in the sport. And Phelps also confirmed NASCAR is actively in talks with additional OEMs about future entries.
On Friday evening, Matt Crafton will wrap up his illustrious full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving career. In the opening remarks of the State of the Sport, Phelps issued a salute of the 3-time champion on behalf of NASCAR.
The Daytona 500, as previously announced, will move a week later in 2026 to avoid a conflict with the Super Bowl. Phelps said NASCAR will continue to do whatever it can to avoid conflicts with the Super Bowl.
NASCAR has increased back to four Premier Series partners for the 2026 season. Phelps says the sanctioning body has no plans to revert to a single title sponsor for the Cup Series and that the multi-partner model will remain.
Kyle Larson stunned fans at Australia’s Perth Motorplex on Sunday when he made a surprise appearance in bold fashion.
The second annual High Limit International event commenced on December 28 and Larson, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion and a co-founder of the league, opted against a quiet and modest arrival.
The Hendrick Motorsports star instead dramatically descended from the sky in a silver helicopter before the first race of the three-day series began to deliver a briefcase containing $110,000 Australian Dollars, a record prize for an Australian sprint car racing event.
The helicopter landed on the racetrack before Larson emerged wearing a red fire suit, holding a black briefcase containing the winning prize, set to go to the winner of Tuesday’s main event.
The NASCAR star, who won the inaugural High Limit International race one year ago, walked to the infield and delivered the case to Perth Motorplex General Manager Gavin Migro.
“I was actually nervous because of how windy it is,” Larson said as he walked to the infield. “That was probably the smoothest helicopter ride I’ve ever been on.”
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion also noted that he’s only accustomed to taking helicopters out of tracks, which he has famously done twice before on ‘Double Duty,’ when he raced in both the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar race and Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race on the same day.
Then came the race, the first of two prelims leading up to Tuesday’s main event, which pitted big-name drivers from the United States against high profile Australian racers for a $15,000 prize.
Larson’s HMS teammate Corey Day took the checkered flag, fending off Australian Kaiden Manders by a half second. Day, who began the race in fourth position, was briefly overtaken by Manders after Larson caused the lone caution of the race when he suffered a flat right-rear tire on Lap 22.
The defending High Limit champion and co-owner finished 17th on the night, an underwhelming result after his grand entrance.
Larson’s cross-globe journey to participate in High Limit comes less than two months after he captured the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The 33-year-old won the title without leading a single lap in the championship race at Phoenix, outlasting Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron, all of whom suffered tire issues, to finish third.
The former Chip Ganassi Racing driver won three races during the 2025 season and finished atop the points standings thanks to six top-seven finishes in the playoffs.
Unlike in 2021, Larson’s first NASCAR Cup Series title, he did not win a single playoff race en route to claiming the championship.
A sequel to Days of Thunder, titled Days of Thunder 2, has reportedly entered early development. Tom Cruise is expected to return as Cole Trickle in the movie that has a target release window of 2026. While details remain vague, industry chatter has also hinted at possible involvement from NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.
Fueling that speculation, Hendrick Motorsports recently published a set of 23 behind-the-scenes images on its website, offering a glimpse of Cruise during filming. The photographs were of the Hollywood superstar seated in a race car and posing between takes.
The photos have intensified interest. The hype is also fueled by Cruise’s connection to racing extends beyond the silver screen.
Long before portraying a stock car driver in Hollywood, Cruise had some firsthand experience in competitive motorsports. In 1987, he stepped into professional racing by competing in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Grand Sports endurance race. He also took part in several SCCA events in the 1980s.
That IMSA debut placed him in the deep end, though. The three-hour endurance race at Road Atlanta demanded extreme patience from Cruise, who was sharing the car with Rick Hendrick. His true test of patience came when he encountered a refueling issue that disrupted his run.
The issue ultimately dropped his team to a 14th-place finish in the endurance race at Road Atlanta. Cruise completed 97 laps around the 2.52-mile road course and came away with a clearer understanding of what drivers go through each weekend.
“It was a lot of fun. I got a lot of seat time, and it was fun racing with those guys. The first three laps were like a demolition derby. Guys were bouncing off each other. After that, it settled down, and we had some good racing,” said Cruise, reflecting on the experience.
Cruise had started the Nissan 300 ZX Turbo from 15th on the grid and handled the opening 80 minutes of the three-hour race. He steadily climbed into P9 place before pitting on lap 50. That pit stop, however, proved costly.
A fueling problem stretched the visit to two minutes. They ended falling behind by two laps, undoing the progress. When Hendrick rejoined the race, the team found itself in 19th place, forced to salvage what it could over the remaining distance.
The event also marked Hendrick’s professional racing debut in the street-stock category. That race was won by John Heinricy of Holly, Michigan, and Stuart Hayner of Yorba Linda, California. Cruise and Hendrick focused on finishing the endurance challenge and gaining experience.
Now 63, Cruise appears ready to strap in once more, not to chase trophies, but to return to racing on the silver screen. Reports suggest Days of Thunder 2 will frame him as a mentor confronting modern technology and younger rivals, with themes centered on legacy, redemption, and NASCAR competition.
Speculation has also swirled around Margot Robbie potentially joining the cast as a rising star, alongside possible cameos from the original film’s ensemble.
Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2025 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
Doug Boles was once an NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitor, a founding partner of Panther Racing, which won season championships in 2001 and 2002 with Sam Hornish Jr. at the wheel. This year, the longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway president was named to the same position at INDYCAR, replacing Jay Frye.
Boles has decades of motorsports experience. He became IMS president in 2013, overseeing the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, the first full-capacity crowd in the event’s stories history. He managed more than $150 million in strategic investment at the Racing Capital of the World, including “Project 100” and significant infrastructure improvements following the acquisition of IMS by Penske Corporation.
Across his tenure at IMS, Boles has been lauded for his promotional prowess and strategic marketing capabilities, growing the Speedway’s global reach and better connecting Indy 500 fans to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Boles worked extensively within the INDYCAR paddock during his roles as Panther Racing’s chief operating officer and Hulman & Company’s vice president of communications. At Panther, he helped lead the Chevrolet-powered organization to 15 INDYCAR SERIES race wins and the two INDYCAR SERIES championships, in addition to seven INDY NXT by Firestone race wins and a championship won by Mark Taylor in 2003.
In total, Boles brought more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in motorsports, within team operations, sponsorship, marketing, public relations and more to INDYCAR.
Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles called Boles “the ideal choice” as the series moved into a new era of opportunity and visibility.
“(He) is appreciated by our fans and respected by our owners, drivers, partners and additional key stakeholders,” Miles said.
Frye served 10 years as president. During his tenure, he led a period of tremendous successes at INDYCAR, including securing the entitlement series sponsorships with Verizon and NTT, the development of the AK18 universal aero kit, development and implementation of the total driver cockpit safety solution aeroscreen and state-of-the-art hybrid technology introduction.
Frye also oversaw an expanded grid with incredible competition. The longtime motorsports executive is now president of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
The Olympic Flame doesn’t just travel through city squares and historic landmarks—it also stops where real-world craftsmanship happens. On December 27, the flame made a meaningful visit to the Pomigliano d’Arco Assembly Plant, one of Italy’s most important automotive manufacturing sites and the home of the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV.
For Alfa Romeo, the moment was more than ceremonial. It was a powerful blend of sport, industry, and national pride as the flame’s journey toward the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics passed directly through one of the brand’s most modern production hubs.
A Factory With Deep Roots –
The Olympic Flame at the Pomigliano d’Arco Plant. (Stellantis).
Pomigliano d’Arco isn’t just another assembly plant—it’s a symbol of Italian manufacturing excellence. Alongside other key Stellantis facilities in Melfi, Modena, and Turin, Pomigliano represents the backbone of Italy’s automotive industry. Today, it plays a crucial role in Alfa Romeo’s future by producing the Tonale, a vehicle designed to bridge classic Alfa performance with modern electrification.
That made the plant a fitting stop as the Olympic Flame continues its long relay across Italy. After beginning its journey in Rome on December 6, the flame will pass through more than 300 towns and cities before reaching Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo for the opening ceremonies in 2026.
Alfa Romeo’s Role in the Olympic Journey –
The Olympic Flame at the Pomigliano d’Arco Plant. (Stellantis).
As an Official Partner of the Olympic Flame relay, Alfa Romeo is supporting the convoy with a fleet that includes the Stelvio, Tonale, and Junior. These vehicles aren’t just transportation—they’re rolling ambassadors for Italian design, performance, and technology.
Alfa Romeo has also tied the partnership directly to its product lineup, previewing special Milan Cortina 2026-themed editions of the Junior and Tonale. These models feature exclusive styling touches inside and out, along with sport-focused upgrades that reinforce the brand’s performance-first identity while celebrating the Olympic spirit.
Employees Take Center Stage –
The Olympic Flame at the Pomigliano d’Arco Plant. (Stellantis).
One of the most impactful parts of the event had nothing to do with sheet metal or horsepower. Alfa Romeo employees and their families were invited to take part in the celebration, turning a normal production day into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A selected group of workers physically carried the Olympic Flame through the plant itself, weaving between production areas while coworkers looked on. It was a rare and emotional moment that connected everyday manufacturing jobs with one of the world’s most recognizable symbols.
Adding to the significance was the presence of Stefania Belmondo, one of Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympians. With ten Olympic medals and a legendary career in cross-country skiing, Belmondo opened and closed the event, sharing personal reflections about representing Olympic values on the world stage.
Bigger Than One Brand –
The Olympic Flame at the Pomigliano d’Arco Plant. (Stellantis).
The Pomigliano stop also highlighted Stellantis’ broader role in the Games. As an Automotive Premium Partner, Stellantis brands—including Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia, and Maserati—will provide approximately 3,000 vehicles to support athletes, staff, volunteers, and officials during the Games. More than half of that fleet will be electrified, underscoring the group’s push toward a more sustainable future.
For Alfa Romeo, the Olympic Flame’s visit wasn’t just about the Games—it was about celebrating people, passion, and the pride that comes from building vehicles with history and purpose.
For any driver, finding victory lane is the pinnacle of their career. However, not every driver is lucky enough to find victory lane during their career. In 2026, rookies, veterans, and everyone in between will fight across 36 races in hopes of finding victory lane for the first time.
This list will be limited to full-time Cup Series drivers. Drivers competing part-time are not eligible, but adjustments can be made in the event of a driver swap.
This list will start with the driver with the fewest number of career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and end with the driver with the most. These streaks can span all the way from single digits to triple digits.
Last season, Josh Berry removed his name from this list, winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his 52nd career NASCAR Cup Series start.
Zilisch enters the 2026 season with just three starts under his belt, none at short tracks and none at super speedways. While he adjusted to the Xfinity Series rather quickly, this Cup Series will likely come as a sharper learning curve for the 19-year-old.
44 Starts – Riley Herbst – No. 35 – 23XI Racing
Despite showing promise in sporadic starts leading up to the 2025 season, Riley Herbst had one of the toughest rookie seasons in recent NASCAR history. While the pressure will be on in 2026, Herbst has overcome a similar situation before, coming quite a ways from his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020.
After his impressive rookie campaign in 2024, Hocevar improved yet again in 2025, scoring better counting stats, his first career pole, and a much-improved average starting spot. The No. 77 came close twice in 2025, and it is only a matter of time before the stars align for Hocevar and Spire.
81 Starts – Zane Smith – No. 38 – Front Row Motorsports
Zane Smith made his return to Front Row Motorsports this past season, and, despite all-around struggles from the team, the No. 38 seemed like FRM’s most consistent option from start to finish. Smith still has a way to go until he is a real threat week in and week out, but once he finds his groove in the Cup Series, a win will likely follow soon after.
Noah Gragson is entering his first NASCAR Cup Series season, in which he will return to the team he raced with the year prior. The 2025 season was very challenging for Gragson, but maybe some consistency will pay off and help the fan favorite driver score his first win in 2026.
113 Starts – John Hunter Nemechek – No. 42 – Legacy Motor Club
John Hunter Nemechek may not have won his first race in 2025, but his year-to-year improvement cannot be overlooked. Entering 2026, he and his Legacy Motor Club teammate Erik Jones have a knack for racing at Darlington, and maybe Nemechek can turn his 2025 Southern 500 run into a win this season.
123 Starts – Ty Gibbs – No. 54 – Joe Gibbs Racing
It never felt like the No. 54 team found its footing during the 2025 season. Following a crew chief change and a difficult end to 2024, Gibbs and company found themselves starting where the team left off in 2024, and though he came close to winning at Bristol, the odds did not fall in his favor, keeping his winless streak alive for yet another season.
142 Starts – Cody Ware – No. 51 – Rick Ware Racing
Much like his family’s team, Cody Ware has yet to find a way to win after many years racing in NASCAR’s highest level. Though he may not impress every week, that No. 51 is often at the front of the field during superspeedway races, and if his timing is right, that could pay off in the long run.
Todd Gilliland took on the role of veteran for Front Row Motorsports in 2025, but failed to build on the gains he made during the 2024 season. As always, FRM had fast cars on superspeedways in 2025, and this will likely carry into the 2026 season, with Gilliand’s knack for racing on drafting tracks, which could be his most likely route to his first win.
223 Starts – Ryan Preece – No. 60 – RFK Racing
After a solid first season at RFK Racing, the vibe around Ryan Preece has shifted from ‘will he match expectations’ to ‘when will he finally win?’ The short track ace will have many opportunities to do so during his second year with the team, and his countdown to victory lane seems to be slowly coming to an end.
281 Starts – Ty Dillon – No. 10 – Kaulig Racing
Ty Dillon has had one of the toughest careers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and despite outperforming his equipment at times and frequent team changes, Dillon remained winless in his first year with Kaulig Racing. The second-generation racer has a hunger to win and hasn’t given up yet, and maybe 2026 will be his season to break this streak.
This list will be updated as the season goes on and drivers get their first wins.
The engineering field remains largely male-dominated, and Jayhawk Motorsports reflects that reality. The student-run racing team has a strong male presence, but a small group of women are working to change that.
Though few in number, they continue to assert their place within the team, challenging stereotypes and helping redefine what it means to be an engineer in motorsports.
The Jayhawk Motorsports team has established itself as a top-performing team in Formula SAE competitions, where college students design and race small cars. Founded in 1994, the group has grown significantly larger than the six University of Kansas mechanical engineers who started it.
Today, JMS has expanded its efforts to build a combustion-powered race car. The team now features more than 40 students from a diverse range of disciplines, including business, industrial design, and computer science, as well as mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering. These students compete on a high level, turning theory into practice and refining their abilities in design, teamwork, and project management.
The women in this group are no exception to that, holding each other accountable and making sure that the gender roles that are traditionally placed on them are challenged and not just accepted.
Katie Kraiss is one example of this, as she holds the role of business lead at JMS. She has always had an interest in cars as her dad and grandpa had a love for them and passed that along to her. Kraiss said that people often seem surprised that she knows so much about cars and is interested in them because, to her, it’s just something she grew up with.
“Working with 90% of the team being male engineers as a female business student, I’ll just always be slightly intimidated by them I will say,” Kraiss said.
Hailey Bollini, volunteer lead managing the non-senior side of things, said she also feels underestimated in the club. Bollini said she has had several instances where she was more knowledgeable on a topic than some of her male counterparts but was overlooked because of her gender.
“You kinda have to make yourself bigger and scarier, and then people kinda take you seriously, so, kinda that emotional labor that goes along with all that and putting on a persona,” Bollini said.
Despite the challenges, the women of Jayhawk Motorsports continue to push forward, working on engines, managing budgets, and leading projects alongside their male teammates. Their efforts are not only helping the team succeed on the track, but also paving the way for future women in engineering and business.
As Jayhawk Motorsports approaches its next competition, the women on the team remain committed to proving their place in engineering and to challenging the barriers that still exist within the field.
