On Monday, NASCAR is set to announce the 2026 championship format

The 2026 NASCAR season is set to begin in just a few weeks. Yet, we still don’t know the playoff format.

Throughout 2025, NASCAR had a committee put in place to discuss possible changes to the format. The committee then gave suggestions to NASCAR itself.

The NASCAR playoff format will be changing for the 2026 season.

At first, just one person on the committee was open to a full-season championship. However, more people became open to the discussion as time went on.

However, at the end of the day, it’s still NASCAR’s decision. And, we’ll find out on Monday what the plan is for 2026.

Details

The following is from a NASCAR press announcement

When:
Monday, January 12
3:30 p.m. ET

Post-Announcement Show:

A special ‘Inside the Race’ studio show will be streamed following the formal press conference.

Watch Live:

Press conference and ‘Inside the Race’ show will be live streamed on NASCAR.com, NASCAR YouTube and The NASCAR Channel.

Dale Earnhardt Jr confirms change to 2026 NASCAR playoff format

Links

NASCAR

IMSA has introduced a stringent new rule for the 2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season that effectively prohibits teams, drivers, manufacturers, and associated personnel from publicly criticizing or commenting on the Balance of Performance (BoP) process.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The clause, buried in the updated sporting regulations released in early January 2026, mirrors a similar policy implemented by the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2023 and has been dubbed a “gag order” by observers.

Article 2.2.3.a of the 2026 regulations states: “Manufacturers, Competitors, Drivers, Constructors, and any persons or entities associated with their entries must not attempt to influence the establishment of the Balance of Performance (BoP) or make any public comments regarding the BoP process, methodology, data, or outcomes, including but not limited to statements made through traditional media, digital media, or social media platforms.”

The rule goes further by granting IMSA sole discretion to determine violations “regardless of intent,” with penalties possible at any time—before, during, or after events. This broad authority underscores the sanctioning body’s firm control over discussions surrounding BoP, a tool used to equalize performance among diverse manufacturers in classes like GTP and GTD.

The policy aligns IMSA closely with the WEC, where a comparable rule has largely silenced direct public complaints, though teams have resorted to euphemisms—such as referring to BoP as “she who shall not be named.” In the WEC, the only notable enforcement came in 2024, when Toyota Gazoo Racing received a suspended €10,000 fine for comments deemed critical of the process’s transparency.

IMSA’s move comes despite the series historically facing fewer high-profile BoP controversies than the WEC, where longer race formats amplify performance discrepancies. In 2025, IMSA adjusted its BoP methodology mid-season in response to Porsche Penske Motorsport’s early dominance in GTP, aiming for faster convergence through data-driven changes. President John Doonan described the process as “transparent” and focused on “enlivening the field.”

The timing of the rule’s announcement—just weeks before the Roar Before the Rolex 24 and the season-opening Daytona 24 Hours—has raised questions in the paddock. While no official team statements have emerged criticizing the clause (perhaps tellingly), social media reactions from insiders highlight concerns over restricted speech, with some comparing it unfavorably to expectations of IMSA’s more open culture compared to the FIA.

Critics argue the rule shields BoP decisions from scrutiny, even as ongoing collaborations between IMSA, the ACO, and FIA aim for a “simpler” performance management system in 2026. Proponents see it as preventing undue influence and maintaining focus on racing.

As the 2026 season approaches, teams will navigate this new landscape cautiously, knowing that even indirect remarks could invite penalties under IMSA’s iron-fisted oversight of BoP discourse.

By Tom Coughlin

The Outlaw Predator Series will celebrate its 2025 racing season with an Awards Banquet and fundraiser tomorrow night. The event is open to the public and will be held at the Town of Florida Town Hall at 167 Fort Hunter Road, Amsterdam. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and dinner—a large taco bar with your choice of beef, chicken, pulled pork, fish, shrimp, and taco salad—is at 6:00 p.m. Adults age 16 and up are $25, kids under 16 are $10, and children under 5 are free. This includes food and soft drinks. Bring your own beer. Various raffles will also be available to help raise funds for the 2026 season.

The Ranch at Carlisle has posted its upcoming 2026 event schedule. Saturday, Jan. 24, will be the AMA NYS Ice Racing Championship & Northeast Snow Drag Championship. Fans will see fast racing on prepared ice and snow. A heated tent and concessions are available, with spectator-friendly viewing areas. Spectator admission is $25 per person, with kids 6 and under free. Their winter schedule continues on Feb. 14 with the Winterfest Snow Drag & Ice Race combo (raindate for NYS Championship) and concludes on Feb. 21 with the Winterfest Snow Drag & Ice Race finale (second rain date for NYS Championship).

Good news for racers and fans in the Northeast was received on New Year’s Eve afternoon when Howard Commander, owner of Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y., sent out a press release confirming the operator of the speedway going forward. Marcy Mangino DeVore, the widow of the late promoter Lyle DeVore, along with Pete Scully, have been charged with the management of “The Great Race Place” for the 2026 racing season. They will be aided by a team of returning track employees, staff members, race teams, and sponsors dedicated to carrying forward the legacy built by longtime track manager and promoter Lyle DeVore, who passed away in December 2025 after a hard-fought, four-year battle with cancer. Marcy and Pete are currently developing the 2026 race event schedule and planning for the 61st season opener on Friday, April 17, 2026, a Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modified event.

On New Year’s Day, our other Friday night big car track, Utica-Rome Speedway, released its tentative schedule for 2026 at the Vernon oval known as the “Home of Heroes.” Open practice is scheduled for all classes on Saturday, April 11, with a rain date of Sunday, April 12. The 2026 points season will start on Friday, April 24, and end on Friday, Aug. 28. Weekly racing divisions will consist of DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Crate 602 Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, and Limited Sportsman. The schedule will feature four Sunday shows headlined by the Big Block Modified division, accompanied by a variety of other divisions. The 360 Winged Sprint Cars of the Empire Super Sprints will visit twice, including the annual Cole Cup on Sunday, Sept. 6. The 305 Winged Sprint Cars of the CRSA will also visit twice. The Super DIRTcar Series for 358 Modifieds will visit on Wednesday, July 15, and the SDS for Big Block Modifieds will visit on Wednesday, Aug. 19. There will be two five-dollar Fan Appreciation nights on Friday, May 22, and Friday, July 10. The schedule is subject to change.

Annually, there are roughly 2,000 entries in the Tulsa Shootout, and this year’s 41st annual event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was on track to hit that mark. The Tulsa Shootout is the world’s largest event for Micro Sprints and is held indoors at the SageNet Center. One area racer was out there attempting to advance through the “alphabet soup” of qualifying to make it into the A-Main features. Preston Trautschold of Roscoe, N.Y., who races locally in the Junior Slingshot division and was the 2025 track champion at both Utica-Rome Speedway and Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, was competing in the Junior Sprint division against some of the best racers from throughout the world. Heat races, Last Chance Qualifiers, and B-Mains bring the number of qualifying events up to 427 before the six A-Main features are run to see who goes home with a Golden Driller Trophy. The six divisions and the overall winners were: Junior Sprints, Jax Wittmer; Stock Non-Wing, Cullen Hutchison; Outlaw Winged, Daison Pursley; Restricted A Class, Braxon Vasconcellos; A Class Winged, Frank Flud; and Outlaw Non-Wing, Jonathan Beason. Trautschold made it into the LCQ on Saturday, where he started 12th and unfortunately finished 12th after having some issues; only the top eight were able to advance into the A-Main. Preston was pleased with what he accomplished and that he was able to carry the New York State flag for the Parade of States. Drivers taking part in the Shootout with a national following included NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Gibbs, NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and his children Owen and Audrey, former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and his son Brexton, and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and his daughter Brooklyn.

Racers and fans endured freezing cold temperatures and wind chill to attend the inaugural Chill Factor Enduro 50-lap event at the “Track of Champions.” 42 drivers were entered into the Chill Factor Enduro on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, to welcome in the new year with Fonda Speedway’s earliest-ever opening date. When the 50-lap enduro was finished, Josh Kane was declared the first feature winner for 2026 to begin the track’s 75th anniversary season.

The local racing community has lost another racer as Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame member Ron Quackenbush, age 85, of Gloversville, passed away last week. He was the driver of the no. 333.

The Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club had over 150 former members and racers in attendance at its Racers Reunion last Saturday. A good time was had by all.

You never know who you might encounter when checking out one of the area museums. While touring the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich on Sunday, I happened to meet up with Crate 602 Sportsman champion Payton Talbot and his family. Payton mentioned that this was his first time visiting the very impressive display of motorized history. He also said that he was working on finalizing plans to race in Florida next month. If you have thought about going to the museum but were concerned about mobility, there are a limited number of assistance tools available, such as mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and children’s umbrella strollers. There are also a number of benches spread throughout the facility where you can take a break.

Registration has begun for the much-anticipated Fonda Speedway Race Car Show at the Via/Port Mall in Rotterdam in March. Registration can be done by sending an email to Jamie Page at jpage15@stny.rr.com. Be sure to register and contact your graphics person to be ready for the popular event.

Here are more dates to mark on your calendar: Afton Motorsports Park will tentatively hold practice on Saturday, April 4, 11, and 18, and will open on Saturday, April 25, with Big Block/Small Block Modifieds, Crate 602 Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, Mini Mods, 4-Cylinders, and Factory Stocks.

Niece Motorsports announced that multi-time winner and defending Coca-Cola 600 champion, Ross Chastain, back to its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) driver roster in 2026.

Chastain, who enters his ninth year competing for the organization, remains a mainstay since joining in 2018. The Alva, Florida native has driven a Niece Motorsports truck to victory lane on five occasions – the most of any driver – and delivered the team’s first win at Kansas Speedway in 2019.

Throughout the 2025 season, the veteran driver made five NCTS starts with Niece Motorsports, finishing as high as second at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In each of his races, Chastain posed a threat as a contender for the race win.

Over the offseason, NASCAR adjusted the rules to allow Cup Series drivers with three or more years of experience to participate in eight races instead of five. Chastain plans to take full advantage of the opportunity by competing in as many races as possible.

“It’s great to be back with Niece Motorsports in a larger capacity this year,” said Chastain. “When I heard about the rule change, I knew we had to run more races together. We’ve got a great core group of people here in Salisbury and I want to bring them all back to victory lane. I’m thankful to have the opportunity and appreciate the ownership group and our partners for making it happen, along with everyone at Trackhouse for allowing me to run in the Truck Series.”

Driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado this year, Chastain will reunite with Phil Gould as his crew chief, who guided him to a runner-up points finish in 2019. He will share the ride with series newcomer, Landen Lewis, along with a third driver, who will be announced in the near future.

“We’re thrilled to have Ross (Chastain) in our trucks for more races this year,” said Cody Efaw, CEO of Niece Motorsports. “Ross has been a huge part of our team since he first joined us, and his input is invaluable. Considering the young group of drivers we have in the fold this year, Ross will be a tremendous asset for those guys to learn from. We look forward to having him contend for wins each time he straps into the No. 45 truck this year.”

Chastain’s race schedule will be revealed as the season progresses, along with primary partner announcements for the campaign.

On Friday, Front Row Motorsports announced some personnel changes to its organization. Of note, Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team will have a new crew chief this year.

Grant Hutchens will sit atop the pit box for Gragson this year, replacing Drew Blickensderfer, who moves into the role of Competition Director. Hutchens has worked as a Cup crew chief before, but only in a handful of races between 2021 and 2024. He worked with Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric at Team Penske, and also Harrison Burton at the Wood Brothers for nine races total.

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Elsewhere, Seth Barbour will continue as the team’s Technical Director, and Jonathan DeHart has joined FRM as its Aerodynamics Manager.

Blickensderfer is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500 as a crew chief, but things didn’t go well for the No. 4 team this past year. Gragson lagged behind his teammates, and struggled to find results. He scored just one top five and three top tens, ending the year 34th in the championship standings, and the only full-time drivers ranked lower were Riley Herbst and Cody Ware. FRM teammates Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith ended the year 27th and 28th in the final standings, respectively.

Gragson’s best result came at Talladega, where he finished fourth.

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