NASCAR has introduced a new championship format for the 2026 season. There are new rules regarding penalties, OEM provisionals, age limit, and much more. However, NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell knows that there’s a lot more to fix in the coming days. Finalizing the previously used Chase format isn’t some kind of a spell that will obliterate everything that the fans complain about.
The Chase was used between 2004 and 2014, before NASCAR switched to the infamous elimination-style playoffs. Well, O’Donnell hopes that the 10-race Chase system will form the perfect balance between talent and consistency. But that doesn’t mean NASCAR is done with preserving its relationships within the garage.
In an exclusive interview with RACER, the NASCAR executive said,
“I don’t want anyone to think we’re naive and just going to change this format and everything is great. We think it’s one component of what we need to do. I was talking to Eric Shanks at Fox and he said, ‘You guys need to get the garage back,’ and I think that’s fair.”
The Chase format is also expected to give more importance to individual wins on any given Sunday, instead of getting overshadowed by the menacing playoffs like it used to be.
“It’s hard to win these races,” O’Donnell continued. “It’s hard to be in the top 10. Really important for us to get back to these storylines. We think the fans will come with us. We’ve got work to do on this.”
Next up for the drivers is the 68th running of the annual Daytona 500, which has been opening seasons at the Cup level since 1982. This year, the 500-mile crown jewel is scheduled for February 15, 2026. Fans can watch it on FOX or listen to the radio on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
New Ford Mustang Dark Horse To Enter The NASCAR Cup Series After New Chevy Body Debuts In 2026
The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is all set to make its official NASCAR debut in the upcoming Cook Out Clash at Winston-Salem’s iconic Bowman Gray Stadium. That being said, Ford has also unveiled a new Mustang body that will hit the tracks starting in 2027 and beyond.
The new design is based on the sports car prototype that Ford introduced during its annual season launch. This version of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse will officially enter formal NASCAR competition in the 2027 Daytona 500.
“This was really a dream project for the team,” said Arie Groeneveld, Ford Racing’s chief project engineer, in a press conference. “A chance to make a world-class performance icon true to its American muscle car roots using everything we’ve learned on the track.”
“That 5.2-liter V8 uses a supercharger to generate massive airflow, bringing incredible power to a street Mustang,” Groeneveld added.
As of today, three teams field Mustangs in the NASCAR Cup Series: Team Penske, RFK Racing, and Front Row Motorsports. The first taste of NASCAR racing in the new Mustang comes in the 2027 Clash at Bowman Gray.
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