NASCAR Revolutionizes its Championship Weekend: A New Rotating Format
NASCAR’s championship weekend returns to an iconic track, but its stay will be brief. The organization has announced a new rotating model for its final season event.
On Tuesday, NASCAR confirmed that Homestead-Miami Speedway, host of the NASCAR postseason conclusion from 2002 to 2019, will once again host the event in 2026. NASCAR’s three national series (Craftsman Trucks, Xfinity, and Cup) will crown their champions during a three-day weekend, from November 6 to 8.
However, the return to South Florida will be only the first year of the annual rotation of NASCAR’s championship weekend, which will be held in locations to be determined each fall. This strategy is inspired by sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the college football national championship.
In recent years, NASCAR has experimented with rotating its exhibition events. The preseason Clash moved 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 Charlotte Motor Speedway to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and the resurrected North Wilkesboro Speedway.
This initiative represents a significant change in the traditional NASCAR scheduling model. In 2020, the final weekend was moved from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Phoenix Raceway, driven by fan preference for shorter tracks. Phoenix Raceway has been the host ever since, and is scheduled to host this year’s championship weekend from October 31 to November 2.
Mix things up, and I think you’ll see different teams and different drivers as we move this championship around,” said Ben Kennedy.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President
Kennedy explained that a NASCAR industry working group is defining the details of how the tracks will be selected to host the championship weekend after 2026. The criteria include warm weather in late autumn, proximity to a metropolitan area, updated facilities, and established tracks.
NASCAR owns 11 tracks, including Homestead-Miami and Phoenix. Speedway Motorsports Incorporated owns a dozen facilities. The remaining five are independently owned or are operated by NASCAR in conjunction with other entities.
Phoenix Raceway will continue to host two Cup Series events, as it has since 2005. It will be included in the Round of 8, essentially the semi-finals, of the 2026 NASCAR playoffs. The specific date will be announced with the rest of next year’s schedule.
It is an honor for us to have you back and to start with this new format.
Guillermo Santa Cruz, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway
