Big news is shaking up the NASCAR circuit! Starting in 2026, NASCAR’s coveted Championship Weekend won’t have a fixed address. After years of Phoenix Raceway holding the honors, NASCAR has finally confirmed that it’s embracing a rotating model for the finale. The move brings back fan-favorite tracks and injects long-missing unpredictability into the title-deciding race.

It’s a bold pivot aimed at keeping things fresh, challenging, and maybe even more fair. Social media reactions are pouring in, but not everyone is surprised by the change. Turns out, current champion Ryan Blaney has been rooting for this all along. And now that the vision is finally reality, he’s not holding back on why it’s a “fantastic” call. What’s his track wishlist? And also, why does this move matter more than you think? Read on to find out.

Ryan Blaney cheers NASCAR’s bold championship weekend shift

Reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney didn’t just approve of NASCAR’s rotating finale plan. Instead, he practically championed it. In a recent interview, Blaney backed the long-discussed idea with full support. “The rotation idea is fantastic. It’s something that we’ve talked about for a long time.” And now, it’s finally happening. Starting in 2026, NASCAR will rotate the Championship Weekend between select tracks rather than sticking to Phoenix Raceway, which has hosted the finale since 2020.

Blaney, who clinched his first title at Phoenix in 2023, believes the switch will add excitement and unpredictability to the sport’s climax. “I think you can rotate it, whether it’s every year, two years, you rotate it between Phoenix, Homestead, and Vegas,” he said. All three tracks are known for high-speed drama and stable, mild, and dry weather. Something which Blaney believes is key. “You can’t go run Bristol, cause it might be snowing up there,” he further added, emphasizing the importance of the other tracks.

NASCAR’s decision to return the 2026 finale to Homestead-Miami Speedway, a former long-time Championship host, has already drawn overwhelming praise online. Blaney echoed those sentiments: “I love that we are going back to Homestead-Miami for Championship weekend in 2026. I love the racetrack.” Ryan Blaney’s past performances at Homestead-Miami Speedway have highlighted both his raw speed and his experience.

In the 2025 race, Blaney delivered one of his most dominant showings. He led a race-high 124 laps and won a stage after starting sixth. Blaney’s Homestead history includes both near-misses and solid runs. Just earlier in his career, Blaney consistently finished in the top 10 at Homestead; this includes recent results of being second (2024 and 2023) and third (2022). But while wins have eluded him at Homestead, Blaney’s record shows he’s a threat at the South Florida oval whenever the Cup Series heads there.

The return to Homestead is more than nostalgic. It restores the strategic nuance and multi-groove racing that made it a fan and driver favorite for years. As NASCAR doubles down on enhancing the playoff spectacle, Blaney’s message is clear: flexibility and track diversity could be just what the championship needs. Do you think rotating venues will make Championship Weekend more exciting, or too unpredictable? As Blaney has proved elsewhere, he does seem to have a feel for the NASCAR fandom’s pulse…

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Ryan Blaney highlights what fans want from NASCAR’s ‘Full Speed’

From his support for NASCAR’s rotating championship weekend, Ryan Blaney is also at the forefront of another major shift in the sport: How NASCAR connects with its fans in the digital age. With the debut of Season 2 of “NASCAR: Full Speed” on Netflix, Blaney has been vocal about what modern fans truly crave from their favorite sport. And, it’s much more than just the on-track action.

Blaney explained in a recent SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview, “It’s kind of evolving, like, you can’t just pull your sport on TV anymore, and that’s it. The fans want to see some more. I think that’s a unique thing, is showing them the behind-the-scenes.” This sentiment is echoed by NASCAR executives, who see the docuseries as a way to reveal the personalities, challenges, and family lives of drivers. All these make the sport more relatable and accessible.

The latest season of “Full Speed” goes deeper than ever. It features not just the drivers but also their wives and fiancées, including those of Daniel Suárez, Joey Logano, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Blaney himself. John Dahl, NASCAR’s senior vice president of content, emphasized, “You really get to know these drivers as the multi-dimension people who they are.” This behind-the-scenes access is what Blaney believes fans want most. An authentic look at the people, preparation, and pressure that define NASCAR.

As the sport continues to evolve, Blaney’s insights highlight NASCAR’s growing commitment to storytelling and transparency. Whether it be on-track or off-track changes. By pulling back the curtain, NASCAR is not just keeping pace with modern fan expectations. Instead, it’s setting a new standard for how motorsports can engage, entertain, and inspire its audience.