Did NASCAR fix anything with its 2026 schedule release?
I can’t recall a previous schedule release that was more “meh” in reception than 2026. At least when the 2025 schedule released, there were a few moments of excitement; there are some on the new schedule, too, but they’re overshadowed by a few glaring issues.
Chief among them, of course, is the decision to move the All-Star weekend to Dover Motor Speedway, of all places. Sure, the Monster Mile has some character with its high-banked concrete corners, and sure, it clears the way for North Wilkesboro Speedway to have a points race yet again, which is wonderful. All of those things are great, but NASCAR must have sat atop its ivory tower and said to itself “where would it make the least sense to put all-star weekend?”
Ah, yes, Dover. Is a bad track? No, absolutely not. It simply doesn’t make sense for it to host All-Star weekend, which should be meant as a fun weekend where the rule book gets loosened a bit. That won’t happen, though, and instead, fans will have to watch a non-points paying race at a track that doesn’t bring all that much excitement or nostalgia to the table.
That’s only one blunder, though, and the other has to do with moving the Watkins Glen weekend. I don’t know how many of you have been in upstate New York around May, but there’s a non-zero chance that it’s going to be pretty chilly, and just a slightly lesser chance that it will actually snow on the track. There’s a really good reason that race is always in August – why change it?
Let me be clear here, though. Not all of the schedule was bad. Chicagoland is back, after all, and as reported for quite some time now, championship weekend is back in Miami. There are some good things on this schedule, they’re just weighed down by the questionable decisions.
To answer this burning question, no, it didn’t fix anything, but it’s made just enough hay towards improving to not be a failure in any sense of the word. Again, just “meh.”
Is NASCAR bluffing, or is there really people lining up to buy charters?
You would think that the ongoing legal battle between 23XI and Front Row Motorsports would act as a deterrent to buying into this shaky charter system right now, but according to NASCAR, that isn’t the case.
Since a judge ruled that 23XI and FRM don’t get to race the rest of the season under the charters, NASCAR is reporting that it would like to have the charters sold to other buyers by October 1. Essentially, that means that bidding would open on September 1 in order for a 30-day bidding process to take place. With that kind of rush, I’m led to believe that they are, in fact, not bluffing, and several both in the top level of the sport and lower divisions are looking to get in on the action.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one name who is constantly around the charter marketplace, despite being quite vocal about their rising costs in recent years. After he and JR Motorsports competed in the Daytona 500 this year, though, most watching could tell he got the itch to get back in the big show, and I’d bet he’s circling during these negotiations and biddings.
Now, all of this is pending another hearing of the injunction filed by 23XI and FRM to race for the rest of 2025 as chartered teams, which will take place on August 28. If that doesn’t go well for the teams, I would expect names (and even manufacturers) to be floated around the rumor mill until announcements are made in early October.
Should Connor Zilisch be returning this weekend?
After just taking one week off following a broken collarbone suffered at Watkins Glen where he fell out of his car celebrating a win, JRM announced earlier today that Connor Zilisch will make his return at Daytona.
Now, JRM didn’t state what Zilisch’s actual duties are this weekend, but assuming he’s a full-go for the race, does it not feel a bit soon for your youngest golden boy, especially if you are planning to go Cup racing with him next season?
Obviously, the above tweet mentioned that Parker Kligerman will be on standby to drive the No. 88 if needed, and to be quite honest, I don’t know if I wouldn’t let Zilisch make a lap and then pull him for Kligerman, especially at Daytona.
There’s a nonzero chance that a large wreck encompassing half of the field takes place this Friday night under the lights, and if Zilisch isn’t fully healed (doctor’s letter or not), the last thing he wants to see is the Daytona International Speedway outside wall coming straight at him.
I don’t have an M.D. degree, so what do I really know, but it feels like Zilisch and company might be a bit more concerned about the right now than the future, and whether that’s the case or not, he needs to get through Daytona in good health if he wants to have a good chance to prepare for the Cup Series next season.
Will Corey Heim break Greg Biffle’s Truck Series wins record?
In the year of our Lord 1999, Greg Biffle went on an absolute heater in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and won nine total races. This year alone, Corey Heim has driven himself to victory lane a grand total of seven times.
Now, the series is off for the weekend before we begin the Playoffs. With just seven races left, can Heim catch Biffle’s record in time or not? Truthfully, I don’t think he can beat it in just seven races. The odds aren’t in his favor. However, I do think he could tie it.
The easiest choice for win number eight for Heim is the Charlotte Roval, seeing as he’s coming off wins at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen International. Outside of that, Darlington Raceway and Phoenix Raceway are two of his best shots at a clear-cut victory. With the way that others in the series race on short tracks, Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway will be tougher than the others, but if he can manage to snag one of those, too, he should be able to wrap Biffle’s record up and put a bow on it.
The championship should be well within reach, but it never hurts to write a little history along the way.
Tanner Marlar is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated’s OnSI Network, a contributor for TopSpeed.com, an AP Wire reporter, an award-winning sports columnist and talk show host and master's student at Mississippi State University. Soon, Tanner will be pursuing a PhD. in Mass Media Studies. Tanner began working with Frontstretch as an Xfinity Series columnist in 2022.