'Anything is on the table' as NASCAR attempts to build future championship race rotation

On Tuesday, it was formally introduced that Homestead-Miami Speedway would be the host of NASCAR’s championship weekend in 2026, welcoming the finale again to South Florida for the primary time since 2019. 

In a digital information convention on Tuesday, NASCAR government vp Ben Kennedy, spoke in regards to the transfer to carry NASCAR’s championship race again to Homestead and the way NASCAR got here to the choice to maneuver the finale again to 1.5-mile observe. 

“It is a handful of issues that we check out, particularly as we take into consideration shifting a championship,” Kennedy mentioned. “I’d say, at first, it is fan suggestions, and followers ranked Homestead-Miami Speedway as primary on the record of the place they’d wish to a championship sooner or later.” 

The long-term way forward for NASCAR’s championship weekend remains to be unknown, however that is by design. Homestead’s return to the finale slot shouldn’t be set in stone for years to return, however slightly, the beginning of a rotation that can see a number of tracks host NASCAR’s championship weekend within the years to return. 

“I believe something is on the desk at this level, whether or not it is NASCAR property or elsewhere,” Kennedy mentioned of potential championship venues. 

Something? Properly, not fairly. In accordance with Kennedy, superspeedways — which would come with Atlanta Motor Speedway, Daytona Worldwide Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway — will not be on the desk when discussing the place NASCAR ought to crown its champions. 

“By no means say by no means, however I believe we have unanimously agreed that it must appear and feel like what we might anticipate conventional NASCAR racing to appear and feel like,” Kennedy mentioned. “Superspeedways, I believe all of us really feel like proper now, we would not contemplate that as a championship venue.” 

However what in regards to the winding twists and turns of highway programs, akin to Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Circuit of the Americas or Mexico Metropolis? May they be within the combine for a finale date?

“Once more, by no means say by no means, however highway programs are most likely decrease on the record as we take into consideration championship venues. So we’re actually going to hone in on quick tracks and mile-and-a-halfs for now.” 

One factor is for certain: No matter how the longer term rotation of championship venues seems, followers will have the ability to see the finale return to Homestead, a observe many followers consider ought to’ve by no means stopped internet hosting NASCAR’s championship races.