Recently, a rumor surfaced that NASCAR’s iconic Bristol Motor Speedway will host the 2027 NHL Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators and the Carolina Hurricanes. However, that is far from the truth. As reported by NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass, Bristol Motor Speedway president and general manager Jerry Caldwell also weighed in on the same.
According to Caldwell, who was named one of the finalists for the 2025 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award in October last year, said that Bristol Motor Speedway was open to large-scale events. But he also mentioned that reports of a scheduled event with the NHL at Bristol were “inaccurate”.
“BMS is always interested in unique large-scale events,” Caldwell said in a statement. “The reports of a scheduled event with NHL at BMS are inaccurate, but we do look forward to welcoming fans back to The Last Great Colosseum for the Food City 500 on Sun., April 12.”
The Food City 500 is the first NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2026 season which will be hosted at Bristol’s 0.533-mile oval, short track on April 12. Following this is the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on September 19. Both races are points events, the second one being a part of the 2026 playoffs.
That being said, the first points race of the season is the 58th running of the annual Daytona 500. Scheduled for February 16, this 500-mile, crown jewel event will be televised on FOX, with live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Legend Mark Martin Calls For A Revised Championship Format
NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin believes that NASCAR should ditch the current 10-race elimination-style playoff format and return to a season-long points championship. And that’s because the fans prefer consistency over all the elimination drama.
Martin, who happens to be a member of NASCAR’s playoff committee, has been vouching for a season-long points system. It’s what the fans want, and Martin felt that he should stand up for them.
In a virtual interview with NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace, Martin said,
“Everywhere I go and every fan I talk to hates playoffs. I’m a guy that has a bigger voice than those fans, and so I decided I owed my entire career to the race fans that supported me so much so I stood up for the fans and through the meetings I can’t believe it, but eventually a full season was on the table.”
Well, with the championship race moving to Homestead-Miami Speedway next season, NASCAR has promised a revamped playoff system for the 2026 season. But the details of the same are yet to be announced. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming Cook Out Clash at Winston-Salem’s iconic Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, 2026.
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