NASCAR: A New Approach
In the early 2000s, NASCAR underwent drastic and simultaneous changes, from the implementation of the playoff format to the introduction of the “Car of Tomorrow.” These transformations, although necessary, alienated some fans. However, today, the situation is different. NASCAR, like Gretzky, is taking risks, but with a more thoughtful strategy and a focus on learning.The inclusion of races on street circuits and the return to historic tracks like North Wilkesboro and The Rock are examples of this new philosophy. The rotation of the championship weekend at different circuits and the commitment to events like the one to be held at Bristol Motor Speedway, where the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds will play a baseball game, demonstrate NASCAR’s willingness to try new ideas. Flexibility is key. If something doesn’t work, it’s fixed. This approach became evident during the 2020 pandemic, when NASCAR quickly adapted to return to action, and was consolidated by making contracts with the circuits more flexible. Now, experimentation is constant, with an eye on the future. The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is just around the corner, and NASCAR’s summer of experimentation is coming to an end. The remaining 14 Cup Series races are races we know on tracks we mostly know on weekends where we expect them to be, but only after the Cup’s second visit to Iowa Speedway this weekend. It’s the period at the end of a summer sentence that has run in Mexico City, detoured through the streets of Chicago, experienced a couple of still-new oval revivals in Nashville and Indianapolis, and in the midst of it all announced a Father’s Day street event for 2026 to be held at a San Diego naval base.The question is always, what is your motivation? Why are you doing this? Do you have a broader vision or are you just saying: ‘What the heck?’ and throwing things against the wall?
Joey Logano
