If anyone think that this upcoming season is NOT a pivotal year for NASCAR as a whole, I feel like you personally are sadly mistaken by a huge margin, and then some. After what many may consider being a tumultuous offseason, this weekend’s Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Weather Permitting) will be the tone setter for the upcoming 2026 season for NASCAR, with the Cup Series being primary focus. Yes I said weather permitting because more snow is projected to hit the Carolina region this weekend. The antitrust lawsuit showed alot amidst the previous charter negotiations. Management of the sport now in a way has a black eye on it, with some behind the scenes comments that were made. Now that some of said leadership has changed, the ones that have now taken some of those responsibilities have a HUGE task ahead in getting the garage back in their corner. Its widely known that a majority of the garage area had been lost by how some of the business had been conducted behind the scenes. Personally I feel like Steve O’Donnell and Ben Kennedy have a big challenge ahead in getting the garage back, but I think it can be done if they show and make it knows they have an open mind and will listen to what the most important piece of this sport is saying. That piece being the drivers of these vehicles. Ben has done it, so Ben should know for a fact what they are saying. Overall the product on track has to improve across all facets of tracks, to get the fanbase back and get EVERY facility sold out on a weekly basis. The next and biggest piece, in my opinion, is the broadcast product that goes out on television. A few of the networks, dare I say, are lackluster in some of their quality and product. That HAS to pickup because things can’t grow from a broadcast prospective if the product being put out isn’t great at all. If those things can improve across the board, I honestly think that the shortfalls that came in 2025 can be overcame in 2026.
