That\u2019s it. The other 34 full-time teams are bringing back their same drivers for 2026.<\/p>\n
But the odds of the field keeping that much continuity for 2027 are about as high as Mark Martin suddenly announcing he actually liked the one-race playoff after all. There\u2019s going to be plenty of driver movement, and\u00a0The Athletic\u2019s Jordan Bianchi is certainly going to be busy with Silly Season.<\/p>\n
If that\u2019s the case, won\u2019t it be refreshing to discuss who should replace whom, and what team should hire what driver, instead of the latest lawsuit motions and championship format talk for the 1,547th time? Sounds nice to me.<\/p>\n
Racing won\u2019t look much different<\/p>\n
We know NASCAR is increasing the horsepower at short tracks from 670 to 750 this year. We know the short track package will be used at more tracks. We know Goodyear has continued to make the tires softer. And we know Chevrolet has a new car.<\/p>\n
But is the racing going to suddenly be dramatically changed from 2025? That seems hard to believe. The same teams are still going to be good (although we have questions about Joe Gibbs Racing now that Chris Gabehart is shockingly out) and the same cast of characters should be winning a lot of the races.<\/p>\n
In fact, our friend Grant Peters at Auto Racing Analytics said his first run of the 2026 model<\/a> (which is still being tweaked, he noted) had Ryan Blaney, Hamlin and Kyle Larson winning all but one non-drafting oval race \u2014 with Shane van Gisbergen winning every road course race.<\/p>\n It won\u2019t actually happen that way, since NASCAR is always unpredictable. But it shows you the balance of power isn\u2019t expected to change, and we shouldn\u2019t expect the racing itself to be much different, either. Intermediates will still be the best overall type of circuit for the Cup Series, and the other tracks should be incrementally better with the tires and horsepower boost.<\/p>\n \n After a year of lawsuit and playoff-debate drama in NASCAR, the fans\u2019 outlook will be an ongoing topic in 2026. (Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Fan temperature<\/p>\n Just because NASCAR has taken steps toward addressing some of the issues fans care about doesn\u2019t mean the fan base will suddenly be soothed.<\/p>\n As 2025 ends, there\u2019s still a lot of anger about what was revealed in the lawsuit, and some fans may very well carry that unhappiness with them until there are leadership changes at the executive level. We\u2019ve already called for Jim France to transition out<\/a> of the CEO role, while others want to see NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps and\/or NASCAR president Steve O\u2019Donnell ousted as a result of the text messages and emails that came to light<\/a> during the trial.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the inevitable outrage from some corners over whatever the playoff format decision turns out to be, on top of the usual displeasure about officiating and the quality of racing that has happened in every NASCAR season since before social media existed.<\/p>\n It could result in a further hit to NASCAR\u2019s popularity if the negative fan sentiment lingers. On the other hand, maybe there will be enough positive momentum coming off the lawsuit settlement, the championship format decision and a back-to-basics mindset that NASCAR will get its \u201cnature is healing\u201d moment.<\/p>\n Either way, expect the pulse of the fan base to be an ongoing conversation for much of 2026.<\/p>\n Less F1 envy<\/p>\n Everything seems to be going F1\u2019s way these days, with its exploding popularity in the United States apparent in TV viewership, mega-brand deals, and an ever-growing presence in the mainstream consciousness.<\/p>\n![\"NASCAR](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2234189590-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n