Track Notes: 2026 Motorsports Season Countdown, Return of The Chase, F1 Tech Drops, and More
Written by: Front Row Kenny and T. Walker.
The countdown is on with 10 days until the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 32 days until the NASCAR Daytona 500, 46 days until the IndyCar Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and 51 days until the F1 Australian Grand Prix.
NASCAR Chase Revival
There’s a lot happening in the racing world, and we’re here for all of it. While we all ponder Jeff Gluck’s question, “Did the right person leave NASCAR?,” the governing body is doing right by fans with a revamped 2026 playoff format. NASCAR is bringing back a modified version of The Chase with 16 drivers, meaning no more “win and you’re in” playoff berths. One of our favorites, Tony Stewart, a champion across several series from NASCAR to NHRA, will be the first driver in Kaulig Racing’s “Free Agent Driver Program” at Daytona. While Tony has never won the Daytona 500, he’s won at Daytona in every other series except Trucks. Meanwhile, two-time IndyCar Champion Josef Newgarden shared his excitement about the upcoming IndyCar and NASCAR doubleheader at Phoenix Raceway.
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Mark Martin has emerged as a leading voice pushing NASCAR to overhaul its championship format. He argues the title should reward season-long consistency rather than a winner-take-all finale, echoing what he says most fans want. In high-level meetings, he challenged officials, saying the playoff era strayed too far from the sport’s roots. His persistence helped spur NASCAR’s move back toward a Chase-style system that places more weight on points accumulated over multiple races. Martin calls the change a major victory but still hopes for a true full-season championship someday.
WATCH: What Does the Return of The Chase Mean for the NASCAR Season?
What does the return of The Chase mean for the NASCAR season? One of NASCAR’s most popular drivers ever has plenty to say about the championship points format. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and TJ Majors kicked off a brand-new episode of the Dale Jr. Download discussing the late Greg Biffle, the tragic events that hit Denny Hamlin’s family, and, of course, NASCAR’s overhaul of the playoffs and having Martin’s back with rewarding consistency through 36 races. During their conversation, Dale Jr. admitted, “I was not being drawn to the sport every weekend. I was not wanting to devour it up. I was sitting there going, ‘You know what? I kind of know who’s in the playoffs. I can kind of check out… I don’t know if that hurts my position in the sport to say s**t—I was falling out of love with it.’”
F1 2026 Tech Updates
In F1, new Active Aero details emerged showing how the system will work under the 2026 technical regulations, with much of the focus on driver management. Aston Martin’s 2026 car is reportedly starting the season about 15 kg overweight. Cadillac and the Andretti Global team revealed a special one-off test livery for their 2026 F1 car. Jack Doohan announced his departure from Alpine F1, an uncommon move so close to the start of the season, with the team confirming it was a mutual decision. Former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez described partnering Max Verstappen as “the worst job in F1.” Footage also surfaced of the 2026 Audi F1 car completing its first test laps.
Season Countdown & Newsletter
We are excited to tune in to the 2026 motorsports season and hope that it brings welcomed change across NASCAR, IMSA, IndyCar, and Formula 1. For exclusive stories, behind-the-scenes coverage, and everything at the track, in the garage, or on the streets, join our newsletter. Get weekly recaps and curated news about what’s happening in automotive and the world of racing. We also chime in on our driver of the week and feature content creators we think you should know, all delivered straight to you.
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