NASCAR Announces Change to Championship Weekend Format
NASCAR has revealed a significant modification to the structure of its championship weekend, marking a change in established tradition. The governing body of motorsports has decided to implement a rotation model for its season-ending event.
Homestead-Miami Speedway, which hosted the NASCAR season finale from 2002 to 2019, will host again in 2026. This event will bring together the three NASCAR national series: Craftsman Trucks, Xfinity, and Cup, crowning their champions over a three-day weekend, from November 6 to 8.
However, this return to South Florida is only the beginning of the annual rotation of NASCAR Championship Weekend. Future locations will be determined each fall, following the example of events like the Super Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In recent years, NASCAR has experimented with rotating its exhibition events. The preseason Clash has shifted from Daytona International Speedway to a short track at the Los Angeles Coliseum and to Bowman-Gray Stadium. The NASCAR All-Star Race has also rotated, leaving its home at Charlotte Motor Speedway to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and the resurrected North Wilkesboro Speedway.
This series of changes is perceived as a test phase for the transformation of NASCAR’s most important weekend, where the three national champions are crowned.
“Yes, mixing things up, and I think you’ll see different teams and drivers as this championship moves,” commented Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Director of Racing Innovation and Venues.
Ben Kennedy
This change represents a deviation from the traditional NASCAR model, which in 2020 moved the final event from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Phoenix Raceway. The latter will continue to host the final this year, from October 31 to November 2.
Before the age of 18 at Homestead-Miami, Atlanta Motor Speedway hosted the final race of the season for 14 years. Kennedy explained that the selection of tracks for the post-2026 Championship Weekend will be handled by a NASCAR industry working group. The criteria will include warm weather in late autumn, proximity to a large metropolitan area, updated facilities, and established tracks.
Currently, there are 28 tracks that host Cup events. According to Kennedy’s criteria, approximately a quarter of those tracks could be candidates for future championship weekends.
“A big part of this is also listening to feedback from the industry, whether it’s teams, drivers, broadcast partners, industry partners, and, most importantly, the fans,” Kennedy added.
Ben Kennedy
Regarding Phoenix Raceway, which received a $100 million investment, it will continue to host two Cup events. Furthermore, it will be included in the Round of 8 of the 2026 NASCAR Playoffs, with the specific date to be announced.
“Phoenix set the bar very high since he moved from here to there that weekend,” said Guillermo Santa Cruz, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Guillermo Santa Cruz
