In a statement that brought a huge sigh of relief to many in the NASCAR community, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy, confirmed that superspeedways and road courses are officially off the table when it comes to future championship race venues.
Kennedy put the speculation to rest as the sport prepares to launch a new era of rotating championship race locations starting in 2026, with Homestead-Miami Speedway announced as the first track in the new rotation. While the idea of taking the title-deciding race to various tracks across the country has been met with excitement, some fans and drivers expressed concern over the possibility of holding the finale at unpredictable venues like Daytona or a road course.
Kennedy’s comments made it clear that tradition and racing purity are at the core of the decision-making process.
“We’ve unanimously agreed it needs to look and feel what we’d expect traditional NASCAR racing to look and feel like,” Kennedy said, addressing media and fans. “That means no superspeedways and no road courses in the rotation.”
The statement rules out high-speed draft-heavy tracks like Daytona and Talladega, as well as technical circuits like Watkins Glen or the Charlotte Roval — tracks known for their unpredictability, multi-car crashes, and wild-card outcomes. While thrilling, those races are often criticized for not showcasing the full range of a driver’s season-long skill, something Kennedy and other NASCAR officials clearly believe should be central to a championship-deciding race.
The commitment to traditional oval tracks — particularly intermediate or short tracks — aligns with many fans’ desires for a finale that rewards consistent performance, racecraft, and strategy, not just survival or last-lap chaos.
As the rotation begins in 2026, fans can now look forward to championship finales that maintain the essence of what many consider “true NASCAR” racing — fierce competition on oval tracks where tire management, clean air, and side-by-side battles decide the title.
This announcement not only reinforces NASCAR’s respect for its roots but also offers a clear vision for the future — one where the road to a championship is as authentic as it is competitive.
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