1) Which NASCAR Cup Series team will benefit the most from a week off from racing?
Michael Bellifemini: RFK Racing, since all three cars currently hold playoff spots but haven’t won yet. Last year’s spring Bristol Motor Speedway race was a struggle for the team as a whole, so this extra week of preparation should help it attempt to outrun the top teams in the series.
Christopher Hansen: Bubba Wallace has been on a freefall in the standings after being as high as second following back-to-back finishes of 30th or worse in the last two races at Darlington Raceway and Martinsville Speedway. The off-week will give Wallace and his team a much-needed opportunity to look back on what went wrong the past two weeks and figure out the best path forward to competing for solid results as they did to start the season.
Steve Leffew: Richard Childress Racing. It is out to lunch, and it needs as much time as possible to figure something out.
2) Should Rockingham Speedway be added to the Cup schedule? If so, which track should lose a race to make room?
Hansen: After a successful return to both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedules in 2025, the Cup Series should someday include Rockingham Speedway on its schedule. With all of the hype surrounding the lower series’ return one year ago, I expect that will be repeated should the Cup Series return. If that’s the case, a second race for EchoPark Speedway may be cut from the schedule.
Bellifemini: I would like to see Rockingham back on the Cup schedule if it makes sense logistically. I got into NASCAR after Cup races stopped running there, so it would be cool to see another unique track added back. Of course, another track would lose its second date in return, maybe Phoenix Raceway or Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Leffew: Rockingham absolutely deserves a Cup date. It’s a unique track in the heart of NASCAR country. Rockingham will put on a good show no matter what series runs there, so why not the Cup Series?
3) Who are your picks for the two Modern Era and one Pioneer Era inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027?
Hansen: For the Modern Era drivers, I’m picking Greg Biffle and Jack Sprague, with Harry Hyde earning the nod for the Pioneer Era ballot. Sprague had a Hall of Fame career during his time as a Truck driver, while Biffle should be honored not only for his achievements in NASCAR’s three national series, but also for his work helping victims of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the East Coast after his driving career was done. Working with drivers Dave Marcis, Neil Bonnett and Tim Richmond, Hyde had his breakout season with Hall of Fame driver Bobby Isaac in 1970 as he helped guide Isaac to 11 wins along with that season’s championship.
Bellifemini: Kevin Harvick and Biffle from the Modern Era and Hyde from the Pioneer Era.
4) If Lee Pulliam gets a second race with JRM, where should it happen?
Hansen: Another short track like Bristol Motor Speedway would suit his driving style well. However, getting experience on a traditional intermediate track would be very beneficial for someone like Pulliam, who doesn’t have a ton of experience outside of short-track racing.
Leffew: Martinsville Speedway. Let’s not try to turn him into more than he is at this time. Lee Pulliam is a Martinsville ringer, and as great as his performance was, the errors at what would undoubtedly be his best track prove he’s got more work to do to be ready for a bigger schedule.
Bellifemini: Pulliam may have been at fault for starting that crash, but he ran well, so a good place for him to return would be at another short track like Bristol, Richmond Raceway or New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Michael Bellifemini joined Frontstretch in February 2026 as a contributor. Bellifemini was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from Seton Hall University. He called Seton Hall men's and women's basketball games for their college radio station, 89.5 FM WSOU, and continues to broadcast in the area. Outside of covering NASCAR, Bellifemini is also an avid baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fan and enjoys watching different sports leagues on a daily basis.
Steve Leffew joined Frontstretch in 2023 and covers the Xfinity Series. He has served honorably in the United States Air Force and and lives in Wisconsin.
If Rockingham was put back on the Cup schedule, the Brain Trust would probably schedule it the first week of March so it would be bound to fail.
Rockingham would be a great add to the schedule, though as another commenter noted, stop putting NC/VA tracks in schedule slots where weather is likely to be cold.
Almost no chance a track owned by NASCAR loses a date, and Las Vegas, though boring, brings huge revenue from the city paying to host the race.
As for what track should lose a date, Atlanta (sorry EchoPark, that’s a stupid name) is the obvious choice. Slot Rockingham into Atlanta’s July date. Four pack races per year were plenty. Six are far too much, so five is a step back in the right direction.
If you’re worried NC will be too hot during the day mid-July, (valid concern) install lights and run a Saturday night special. Run qualifying before the race, making it a one day show. If it rains early in the day, cancel qualifying, which matters little in the stage caution era. If the forecast is for rain late in the day, either move the whole schedule forward, or cancel qualifying and begin the race early.
This would also allow teams both a short week at the track, as well as a short commute home, helping out the strain of the Cup grind. Unless it was a week with O’Reilly and/or trucks there as well, would also cut costs by one day to staff the facility. Also gives flexibility, to avoid a rain out. At worst, you’d have Sunday to run it if Saturday is a washout.