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NASCAR working through final details of 2026 Cup Series calendar

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NASCAR is aiming to release its 2026 schedule next week, but the puzzle pieces keep moving around the board.

There are a few things the industry knows for certain, which starts with the first events of the season. Bowman Gray Stadium will host the Clash on Feb. 1. The season-opening Daytona 500 will follow on Feb. 16.

Other previously announced events include San Diego joining the schedule during Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21. Homestead-Miami Speedway will host the championship weekend Nov. 6-8.

So, what else are we hearing?

A familiar start

Bowman Gray and Daytona kick off the season, and they will lead into other familiar races. RACER understands that the first five races of the 2026 season will be the same five that began the ’25 season. Those races would be Daytona, Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Additionally, there are two races that appear set for earlier race dates next year. Those being Darlington Raceway (potentially in March) and Richmond Raceway (in May).

Sonoma Raceway is expected to follow San Diego on June 26-28. Running back-to-back road course weekends on the West Coast would be a logistical help to the teams.

Uncertainty over Mexico City

NASCAR visited Mexico City for the first time with the Cup Series in June. The Xfinity Series also made a return, having not competed in Mexico since 2008.

However, there has been increasing talk that Mexico will not be on the 2026 schedule. NASCAR’s partnership with Mexico City is a multiyear deal, but the country is set to co-host the FIFA World Cup next year, and that event will be held through June and into July. So, if NASCAR does return, it would likely be during a different time period.

After the inaugural event, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR EVP, chief venue and racing innovation officer, was noncommittal about the sport returning next year. But he did offer, “We’re very hopeful to be back here in the future.”

Fireworks at Chicagoland? And what about Iowa?

The 1.5-mile intermediate track in Joliet, Ill., has been mentioned a lot in recent months. But what started as a seemingly scheduled wish list item appears to be turning into reality, with a weekend date for Chicagoland Speedway around the Fourth of July, after San Diego and Sonoma.

Surprisingly, there is also uncertainty around Iowa Speedway. The facility hosted its first Cup Series race in 2024 and welcomed back the series earlier this month. However, there is chatter that its future on the schedule could go either way, despite selling out both of its NASCAR race weekends.

A second off weekend

It’ll be welcome news for the Cup Series garage to have a second in-season weekend off after having just one this year for Easter. But the math looks to be working out for an Easter off weekend again in ‘26 and a second off weekend later in the year, which could be in early August after the Brickyard 400.

New date for New Hampshire

The one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway is expected to move out of the postseason next year, which wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. New Hampshire has been a one-race place since 2018, and that is when it stopped being a playoff location. However, the facility is back in the postseason this year, but is tipped to be moving dates again in ’26.

Changes ahead for Dover and North Wilkesboro?

The Athletic is reporting that Dover Motor Speedway is being considered as the 2026 location of the All-Star Race. If so, it opens up the possibility of North Wilkesboro Speedway, which has been the home of the All-Star Race the last three years, hosting a points-paying race.

North Wilkesboro is a beloved facility, and since it returned to the NASCAR schedule in 2023, there have been hopes of it one day getting a points race for the first time since 1996.



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F1 Aero Tricks for Enhanced Car Performance

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Every new F1 season reshapes the grid, and the 2025 cars push aerodynamic complexity even further with intricate sidepods, sculpted floors, and finely tuned wings. While these features exist to win races under strict regulations, the principles behind them are already transforming how high-performance road cars cut through the air and stay planted at speed.

Just as enthusiasts compare online casinos that pay out the most to maximize return on risk, performance drivers now compare brands that deliver the greatest transfer of F1 aerodynamic knowledge into cars that occupy real garages. The models that benefit from this pipeline feel calmer at 250 km/h, corner harder on track days, and waste less fuel or battery charge at highway speeds.

From Wind Tunnels to Showrooms

F1 teams and manufacturers now work inside shared technical ecosystems, where aerodynamic research rarely remains confined to the race shop. Computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel data feed common databases that road-car engineers interrogate when they design a new supercar or performance sedan.

Key channels that transfer F1 aero learning into road cars include:

  • Shared CFD platforms that simulate similar flow conditions for race and road projects.
  • Common wind tunnel facilities with interchangeable models and measuring systems.
  • Track data that validates how cars behave in crosswinds and turbulent air.
  • Joint technical groups that translate race concepts into street-legal solutions.

Through these mechanisms, investment in F1 development produces measurable benefits in the road division instead of existing as a pure marketing exercise.

Ground Effects and Venturi Floors in Road Cars

The 2025 F1 floors generate huge downforce through Venturi tunnels and powerful diffusers, and road-car departments have revived the same philosophy in a moderated form. Underbody tunnels, extended diffusers, and subtle vortex generators create suction without resorting to oversized wings that would look out of place in city traffic.

Examples of ground-effect DNA in current road cars include:

  • Mid-engine supercars with flat floors and deep rear diffusers
  • Hypercars that channel air through underbody tunnels to generate downforce
  • Performance sedans that reduce high-speed lift with tuned diffusers
  • Track-focused editions with removable front splitters and underbody strakes.

These solutions respect everyday ride-height constraints while retaining the stability advantages that F1 teams exploit.

Active Aero and Smart Surfaces

While F1 cars use limited movable devices, the control logic behind ride height, temperatures, and hybrid deployment inspires sophisticated active systems on road cars. High-performance models now coordinate adjustable rear wings, deployable spoilers, and intelligent grille shutters through central controllers that read speed, steering angle, and thermal load.

Common active aerodynamic components in modern performance cars include:

  • Multi-position rear wings that alter angle during braking and acceleration
  • Front lips that extend at higher speeds to increase front axle grip
  • Adaptive grille shutters that open for cooling and close to cut drag
  • Underbody flaps that direct airflow toward diffusers or brake ducts.

In practice, the car behaves as a dynamic object that reshapes itself for each phase of a drive, echoing the adaptive philosophy of race setup work.

Aero Efficiency for Everyday Driving

Although F1 teams chase maximum downforce within tight drag limits, road cars often prioritize efficiency because emissions regulations and electric range targets are strict. Designers therefore apply F1-style flow management around mirrors, wheels, and rooflines to preserve stability while minimizing wake turbulence.

Typical efficiency tricks derived from F1 thinking include:

  • Air curtains that guide flow cleanly around the front wheels.
  • Sculpted side sills that feed air toward the rear diffuser.
  • Tapered roof and tail profiles that shrink the turbulent wake.
  • Subtle rear lips that reduce lift without large wings.

Each detail may seem minor when viewed alone, yet in combination they deliver measurable improvements in drag coefficient and high-speed composure.

What This Means for Drivers and Engineers

81 Oscar Piastri, (AUS) McLaren Mercedes MCL39, during the Hungarian GP, Budapest 31 July-4 August 2025. Formula 1 World championship 2025.
81 Oscar Piastri, (AUS) McLaren Mercedes MCL39, during the Hungarian GP, Budapest 31 July-4 August 2025. Formula 1 World championship 2025.

For drivers, the influence of 2025 F1 aerodynamics appears as calmer behavior at velocities that once felt nervous. Steering remains more precise under heavy braking, crosswinds disturb the car less, and lap times on track days improve as tires operate within more consistent load windows.

For engineers, the convergence of race and road programs enforces disciplined development processes. Shared wind tunnel hours, CFD runs, and correlation tests reduce the temptation to add ineffective vents or decorative wings, because every visible feature must justify itself through quantifiable aerodynamic benefit.

The Next Aero Generation

The trajectory from 2025 indicates that future performance cars will deepen the integration between sensors, software, and active surfaces. Vehicles may adapt their aero profiles in response to real-time traffic, weather, and road-surface data, rather than relying solely on speed-based maps.

For enthusiasts who watch F1 qualifying and then drive home in high-performance coupes or sedans, the connection between what happens on Saturday and what they feel on Monday morning will continue to tighten. Each new F1 regulation cycle forces teams to reinvent the language of airflow, and that vocabulary keeps migrating into cars parked in ordinary driveways, quietly transforming everyday journeys with technology proven at racing speed.

63 George Russell, (GRB) AMG Mercedes Ineos W16, during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 24-27 July 2025 Formula 1 World championship 2025.
63 George Russell, (GRB) AMG Mercedes Ineos W16, during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 24-27 July 2025 Formula 1 World championship 2025.



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Dr. Patrick Staropoli Lands Full-Time O’Reilly Ride with Big Machine Racing

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Ladies and Gentlemen, the doctor is in!

Dr. Patrick Staropoli, a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist, has been tapped by NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series operation Big Machine Racing to compete full-time in the second-tier division in 2026.

Staropoli will get behind the wheel of the No. 48 SYFOVRE (pegcetacoplan injection) Chevrolet, beginning with the February 14 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2023, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport,” said Staropoli. “The path has taken many unexpected turns, but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”

A third-generation driver from Plantation, Florida, Staropoli first gained national attention after winning the 2013 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge to become a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, emerging ahead of top talents like NASCAR Cup Series race-winner Chase Briscoe. The 36-year-old earned himself a seat with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he captured a victory at Irwindale in 2014.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the No. 48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season,” said Patrick Donahue, Crew Chief and Team Manager. “He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”

After nearly a decade on the sidelines, Staropoli returned to the ranks of NASCAR’s National Series in 2025, competing in four NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity Series) events for Sam Hunt Racing and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events for Cook Racing Technologies — earning two top-20s in both the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series.

The hiring of Dr. Patrick Staropoli comes after the surprising news earlier this month that Nick Sanchez, who earned the team’s second victory last Summer at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta), had been released from the organization ahead of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign. Sanchez said in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the move was “strictly business” on the part of Big Machine Racing.

Staropoli will take on the 33-race NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign in 2026 with Big Machine Racing, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. Coverage will be at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.



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NASCAR champion Kyle Larson open to Rolex 24 return

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Kyle Larson is ready to go back to Daytona for the Rolex 24 Hours. 

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has three starts in IMSA’s season-opening crown jewel event, but none since 2016. He took overall victory with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015, co-driving with Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Jamie McMurray. 

On a recently-released episode of Dinner with Racers, a podcast co-hosted by Ryan Eversley and Sean Heckman, Larson was asked about his interest in returning for the endurance classic if Chrevolet came calling. 

“I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I’d do it again,” said Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in NASCAR. “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.” 

#02 Chip Ganassi Racing Riley DP Ford: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson

#02 Chip Ganassi Racing Riley DP Ford: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Few are as well-equipped as Larson to handle a busy racing schedule. Beyond his Cup commitments, he also competes in High Limit Racing, a Sprint Car Series he co-owns with five-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet. There’s also the random Midget races, and offseason racing trips to the other side of the globe.

“The offseasons have only gotten busier,” Larson said. “There’s more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl, and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot and I, kind of, want time off. But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.”

The 33-year-old California native would also relish the opportunity to share the experience with his family, noting his oldest of three children, Owen, is 11 but was a newborn when Larson won the event.

“To have my kids be a part of it would be cool,” said Larson, who also has two starts in the Indianapolis 500 each of the last two years.

It also helps bolster a family vacation when Disney World is roughly an hour away, too. 

“Yeah, that, too,” he said. “So yeah, I would probably do it again.”

However, Larson, who attempted to express not knowing anyone in IMSA to move the idea forward, does have one requirement: “I want to be in the best car.” 

As the subject started to fade off, Larson pressed his level of interest into more of a declaration. 

“I definitely want to do it again in the future.”

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Wisconsin racing in 2026 at Road America, Mile, Slinger, Outaws, more

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Dec. 23, 2025, 5:08 a.m. CT



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BangShift.com Racing With Heavy Hearts…..The KSR Crew Heads To Bradenton Motorsports Park’s Christmas Tree Drags 2025!

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Racing With Heavy Hearts…..The KSR Crew Heads To Bradenton Motorsports Park’s Christmas Tree Drags 2025!


Racing With Heavy Hearts…..The KSR Crew Heads To Bradenton Motorsports Park’s Christmas Tree Drags 2025!

Kevin and the KSR Performance and Fab crew headed out to Bradenton for Cleetus McFarland’s Christmas Tree Drags, but like most folks in the motorsports world it was with a heavy heart after the unfortunate death of Greg Biffle and his family. He wasn’t alone, as he and many of the other racers at the Christmas Tree Race were friends with Biffle or raced with him in a variety of races at Bradenton and the Freedom Factory. But even though Greg’s death put a big of a dark cloud over the weekend, the race went on like he’d have wanted. Watch the racing action and see just how well KSR and Soccer Mom did with a Christmas tree strapped to it.


These Railroad Speeders Got A Unique View Of The Oregon Coast While Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Illinois Puts Out A Video Every Year Of Some Of Their More Entertaining Rejected Personalized Plates And Here It Is!

 






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Chase Elliott 2025 season in review: Two wins, Round of 8 appearance highlight big year for the 9 team

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Editor’s note: This is part of a series from NASCAR.com reviewing the top 30 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in reverse order of the 2025 final standings. 

  • Driver: Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 
  • Crew chief: Alan Gustafson 
  • Final 2025 ranking: 8th 
  • Key stats: 2 wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s, 454 laps led
  • How 2025 ended: Elliott qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the ninth time in his 10-year career, winning the Kansas Speedway postseason race in the Round of 12 and earning six top-10 finishes during the 10-race playoff stretch. A 10th-place finish in the Phoenix Raceway finale placed Elliott eighth in the championship final standings. 

RELATED: Check out Chase Elliott’s Kelley Blue Blook Chevrolet for the 2026 season

  • Best race: A last-lap pass at Atlanta Motor Speedway in June thrilled a sold-out crowd and earned Elliott his second career Cup Series victory at his “home” track. Although it was a dramatic last-lap pass that earned the trophy at Atlanta, Elliott led 41 laps on the day at the 1.5-miler and snapped a 44-race winless streak. 
  • Other season highlights: His best race statistically came in a sixth-place finish after leading 238 of 407 laps at Dover Motor Speedway. His six-race top-10 showing in the 10-race playoff stretch was certainly a sign that the No. 9 team was prepared for a real fight for the championship. Three times Elliott strung together three consecutive top-10 runs, including an impressive stretch in the playoffs at three vastly different venues; he scored fifth at the one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway, tallied a win at the Kansas 1.5-miler and landed eighth at the Charlotte ROVAL.
  • Stat to know: Remarkably, Elliott’s final season statistics beyond the two wins – his 11 top fives and 19 top-10 finishes – exactly matched his 2024 output. His 454 laps led were his most out front since 2022. His 12.6 average finish was impressive.

RELATED: All of Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 paint schemes in one place!

  • Quotable: “The way I’ve kind of progressed through the playoffs this year is just to fight as hard as I can each week, try to earn myself and our team three more weeks, and you never know what can happen in three weeks. … That can be the difference in somebody being mediocre to potentially getting on a hot streak or even a team collectively getting better throughout that course of time.” – Elliott said of his 2025 playoff strategy.
  • Looking ahead: A multi-time winner for the sixth time in his career and first time in three years, Elliott and Alan Gustafson, his longtime crew chief, finished the year feeling optimistic about their progress. Elliott led the most laps since 2022 and advanced to the Round of 8, all positive progress for a former series champion.



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