To date, NASCAR’s CEOs have been founder William France Sr., followed by his son, William “Bill Jr.”, Bill Jr.’s younger son Brian, and then the youngest of Bill Sr.’s two sons, Jim.

Mike Helton was the first non-member of the France family to become NASCAR president, but he still served under both Bill Jr. and then Brian during their tenures as CEO before going into semi-retirement (although he still carries the title of NASCAR vice-chairman). Helton was then replaced as president by Steve Phelps after Brian France stepped down as CEO in 2018. Phelps carried the title of the sanctioning body’s fifth president for seven years before being promoted to the sport’s first-ever Commissioner ( he still answered to Jim France) in early 2025.

However, Phelps’ most recent role didn’t even last 11 months before he abruptly quit after being ensnared in the controversial lawsuit with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which was ultimately settled in late 2025.

Two other members of the France family lineage could have replaced Jim France: Bill Jr.’s daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, who is Executive Vice Chair of NASCAR and was the CEO of now-merged International Speedway Corporation. Then there is Ben Kennedy, Lesa’s only child and current NASCAR Executive Vice President and newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer.

It is somewhat of a surprise that Lesa France Kennedy did not replace her Uncle Jim. Yet, at nearly 65 years old, it’s questionable whether she wanted to take on such a challenge and the extra work that came with it. For now, the France family’s direct hold over NASCAR’s top executive role has shifted, even as Ben Kennedy could still eventually ascend to President, Chairman, and ultimately CEO.

Jim France had quietly and uneventfully served in his role as NASCAR chairman since 2018, when his nephew Brian was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Brian then took a temporary leave of absence, which ultimately became permanent. Jim took over, and Brian has not been involved with NASCAR ever since.

Technically, Jim France will still hold the title of NASCAR Chairman, and his majority ownership stakes remain unchanged (54% vs. Lesa’s 46%). But his role will be more of a figurehead role, while O’Donnell will become the first non-France family member to lead the sport. In other words, whatever happens in NASCAR from now on will directly go through O’Donnell’s office.

To his credit, and in much the same way Helton climbed the NASCAR ladder, the 57-year-old O’Donnell has dedicated nearly 30 years to the sport, beginning in its marketing department. From there, O’Donnell quickly climbed stock car racing’s corporate ladder, working in a variety of roles, including Events and Operations of NASCAR’s weekly series, Vice President of Racing Operations for the national series, and Chief Racing Development Officer.

O’Donnell was the architect of the NASCAR Playoff System, stage racing, and further played a key role in the development of the Next Gen/Gen 7 car – followed by tenures as Chief Operating Officer in 2022 and President in 2025 (succeeding Phelps when he was named Commissioner).

WHAT DOES O’DONNELL’S ASCENSION TO CEO ULTIMATELY MEAN?

Although O’Donnell has been true-blue to the France family for three decades and turned down several job offers from both within racing and other sports ventures, his ascension to his new role as CEO and continuing as President couldn’t have come at a better time. NASCAR will likely continue to feel the aftereffects of the Jordan lawsuit and settlement. But O’Donnell could play a key role in helping the sport turn the page.

Plus, O’Donnell will make a good pairing with Ben Kennedy, putting older experience with younger ingenuity and ideas to hopefully put NASCAR back on the road to where it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it overtook IndyCar as the most popular motorsport series in the U.S.

One of O’Donnell’s best attributes has long been that he’s not afraid to try something new. Rumor has it he’s already involved with the Gen 7’s successor, likely to be called the Gen 8, which is expected to launch in 2029 or 2030, perhaps sooner if a fourth manufacturer comes into the Cup ranks.

O’Donnell – nicknamed around the NASCAR garage as Steve O. or simply O’D – will likely be the point man for other key changes still to come to the sport. Among things that could potentially be on his radar include expansion to as many as 40 races per season and new markets.

He played a key role in the three years of the Chicago Street Race deal, as well as the upcoming Naval Base Coronado road course race this June, the return to Chicagoland Speedway after a seven-year hiatus, and will likely soon lead what fans have asked for years: in-week races to be televised in prime time (likely either Wednesday or Thursday, much like the NFL has Monday Night and Thursday Night Football).

O’Donnell will also have to help lay the groundwork for not only the next generation of drivers but also the next generation of team owners, from a monetary perspective. With many current owners in their 70s and 80s, such as Jack Roush, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, the Wood Brothers, Roger Penske, and others, the next generation of owners is likely going to have its own way of wanting to do things, with bigger and more significant changes that current old-fashioned ownership has been reluctant to make.

Another thing O’Donnell will have to prioritize is bringing the corporate world back to the sport. NASCAR has lost several high-dollar sponsors in the last 20 years and has not been able to replace them. Instead, we are seeing more and more smaller sponsorships, including one-race sponsorships from local businesses from areas near the particular host racetrack that week.

One thing that O’Donnell must guard against is playing favorites with owners or drivers. If he starts doing that in his new position of authority, it will quickly draw disfavor from owners or teams that may not initially be on his bad side, but will quickly learn what to expect if they draw O’Donnell’s ire or if they criticize his actions. He MUST treat everyone equally.

When Phelps stepped down, it was just a matter of time before Jim France would follow suit, not because he had to the way Phelps did, but more so because NASCAR is a young man’s game, not an 81-year-old senior citizen’s game.

And when guys like Jim France, Roush, Childress, Penske, Hendrick, Gibbs, the Wood Brothers, and others ultimately turn over the reins of their race organizations to others – much like Hendrick has picked Jeff Gordon to be his successor – the sport has to be ready and prepared to take a much more decisive youthful approach and operate with a youthful mindset. After all, much of today’s fanbase is well into its 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and even older. Youth is the key to greater success and growth.

That’s why the NFL, MLB, and NBA have all become more successful in recent years. They’ve proportionately segued from older fans to younger fans who know what they want and that their game today is not like their father’s and grandfather’s. O’Donnell must keep in mind that even if things worked back in the day, it doesn’t always mean they will still work today.

One other thing O’Donnell needs to keep in mind, particularly with the way Jordan and Co. won the lawsuit vs. NASCAR, is to end what has been NASCAR’s unofficial motto for the last 78 years: “It’s our way or the highway.” O’Donnell cannot rule with an iron fist like Bill Sr. and Bill Jr. (and to a lesser extent Brian).

While Jim France was more of a quieter leader than his father and older brother were, the perfect way for O’Donnell to quickly lose friends among owners, drivers, and fans is to rule without being willing to give a little or a lot if it is for the betterment of everyone as a whole, not just O’Donnell and NASCAR’s executive branch.

To that end, we wish O’Donnell the best of luck in his new position. He joined NASCAR at the height of its popularity and has endured its low point and its struggle to remain popular and relevant. To be given such lofty responsibility – knowing that the future and hoped-for growth is riding upon his shoulders – is a heavy task, indeed.

After the settlement with 23XI Racing and FRM, there were some rumors that NASCAR may, for the first time in its history, be willing to sell to either a major TV outlet or a well-heeled private investment or equity group. With O’Donnell’s promotion, that seems an unlikely possibility for now and the near future.

But if O’Donnell doesn’t do enough to change the sport and turn it around in a more positive direction, NASCAR may very well want to keep the “for sale” sign handy in the closet, just in case.

The post The France Family Stranglehold On NASCAR Has Come To An End – Where Does It Go From Here? appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“The fact is Richard Childress has done as much to build and promote NASCAR as anyone in the history of the sport!” He was furious about his reply to Steve Phelps’ controversial remarks about Richard Childress. And through his handwritten letter to NASCAR penning his thoughts, he made it clear that his loyalties lay with Richard Childress.

Now, his handwritten letter and his heartfelt words stand proud in the Richard Childress Racing museum. They are a testament to the friendship and the bond between Childress and Johnny Morris. RCR recently released a video of Childress inaugurating the memento dedicated to Morris.

A tribute to friendship, legacy and the bonds that help shape this sport. Come see our newest display in the RCR Museum featuring Johnny Morris’ letter to Richard Childress. pic.twitter.com/YH5kQCBETJ

— RCR (@RCRracing) March 19, 2026

Phelps’ texts that came out during the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR were brutally rude towards Childress. At one point, he insulted him openly in the texts, claiming,

“He’s not smart, is a dinosaur, and is a malcontent. He’s worth a couple hundred million dollars—every dollar associated with NASCAR in some fashion. Total a**-clown.”

While NASCAR and the two teams eventually came to an agreement, Childress had suggested that he would take legal action against Steve Phelps. For now, there is no update regarding the same. But Childress wants NASCAR to know that he hasn’t forgotten it at all.

It is his way of showing NASCAR what true loyalty looks like. And the fans are loving it. Not only that, but even the other members of the sport can’t help but be in awe of their friendship. His actions have sparked a wave of appreciation towards Childress and Morris.

Denny Hamlin approves of RCR’s show of loyalty

Denny Hamlin‘s immediate reaction to the post perfectly encapsulates a fan’s feelings. “Wow… well done, Richard.” He also reposted the same on his official social media handle on X. As someone who was directly involved in the lawsuit, Hamlin recognizes the need for loyalty.

Without his friend and supporter Michael Jordan’s efforts, Hamlin might not have won the lonely battle against NASCAR and the France family last year. So there was no way that the No. 11 driver would let it go unnoticed. He was joined in by another former Cup driver, Rick Mast: “Very fitting.”

The fans understood that Childress and Morris were sending a message to NASCAR about disrespecting the conservationist community. One of them aptly mentions, “Rednecks 1, NASCAR 0.” They were unable to hold back their awe at Morris for his words.

“Loud words came off those pages.” It was no wonder the fans gathered in support of Morris, who is the owner of an $8.9B empire and one of the primary sponsors of Childress’ racing operations. “Johnny Morris is an absolute LEGEND and represents what an owner of a company should be.”

“I’ve met both of these men. Both are as good as you will find.” Another user would detail their personal experience to emphasize the need for this tribute. With that, Childress and Morris just gave the perfect example of a friendship that is meant to last forever.

The two friends were able to shake NASCAR to its very roots with their determination and mutual respect. Now, the tribute in the RCR museum stands as the documented proof of the lengths they would go to for each other.

The post Richard Childress’ Petty Swipe at NASCAR Earns Denny Hamlin’s Approval Amidst Heartfelt ‘Friendship’ Tribute appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Steve O’Donnell goes for a complete reset in NASCAR

On The Varsity podcast, Steve O’Donnell explained that he seeks to put an end to all the drama, ending everything that Phelps’ tenure had been plagued by.

“I think that’s the goal—it is to bring everyone together and talk about what that North Star is, which is to build the biggest sport and entertainment property. So, we’ve got to set that agenda and then bring everyone to work together on it. I think the good news is everybody is ready to do that.

“We’ve spent the last two months meeting with all the owners, all the drivers, sponsors, and tracks—talking about kind of a reset and working together. And the feeling is good; the proof will be in the pudding, right?”

In his words, O’Donnell displays a sense of urgency. He went to reveal the call for action he is trying to promote in the sport in order to bring it back to its former glory.

“We can talk about it, but now we have to do it. And, you know, in talking to our team, we have to get back to being hungry. And for a while there, the sport exploded. Things were great. Then there were some challenges. When things were really exploding, we had a lot of hungry people working really hard and really promoting the sport; that’s what we have to get back to.”

Here’s what NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell told us on state of the sport entering 2026 pic.twitter.com/PkaCY9qabE

— Danielle Trotta (@DanielleTrotta) February 15, 2026

In his words, O’Donnell revealed that the entire sport has been in shambles for the past two years. There was a lot of mistrust among the teams and the authorities in the sport. The friction was resulting in a precarious situation where no one was ready to talk to one another or sit together and listen to each other’s suggestions. These things painted NASCAR in a bad light among the fans.

“If you came into a racetrack, in the garage area, I want to say everyone went their separate ways, but there were not a lot of conversations happening together about how we really all grow this together. We talked about how a race team may says, ‘Here’s how I am going to grow my individual team.’ A racetrack may talk about, ‘Here’s how I am going to fix our attendance problems or challenges or opportunities,’ but we never really talk together.”

Earlier, the shots were being called by the front office without any proper consultation with the teams or driver organizations, but O’Donnell wants to change all that now and align everything in control.

NASCAR’s decision not to let its past affect its current relationship with the teams seems to be working well for now. O’Donnell himself was more than happy to watch Michael Jordan celebrate his emotional victory with 23XI Racing at Daytona. It seems like NASCAR is trying to show that they are making active efforts towards the teams and the drivers.

For any sport, a fallout between its teams and governing bodies is not a good sign. Fortunately, NASCAR was able to realize it in time. Right now, they are in a good position in front of the fans and the teams. Thus, the next steps that they must undertake should be thought out carefully.

But teams aren’t the only priority for Steve O’Donnell…

NASCAR’s new president goes all in on growing the sport

It is safe to say that NASCAR is facing an unfamiliar situation for now. Instead of the regular commotion and instability, it is looking set for the future that lies ahead. And President O’Donnell knows that he must strike the iron while it’s hot.

“It starts with being a little humble about where you are as a sport, being honest with where you are as a sport, what the challenges are, but also what the opportunities are, and then, not just talking about it, but doing it.”

O’Donnell has no shame in admitting that he will have to put in extra work. He is ready to do so, and he is putting a particular emphasis on leaning in towards the fan sentiments to let the sport earn back their love naturally.

“I think people believe that the direction we’re heading in has the potential to be really good. It’ll take time, but we’re all-in to prove that out.”

Even though the sport is currently in recovery mode, their new President won’t let that stop him. He wants to grow NASCAR to a higher and better level, and for him, 2026 is the stepping stone.

“I think it’s a good year to level-set. I’m bullish about it.”

What are your thoughts about NASCAR’s newest strategy? Do you believe that it is working in their favor?

The post Steve O’Donnell to Put a Leash on NASCAR Corporate Control as He Seeks to End Steve Phelps’ Era appeared first on EssentiallySports.

When asked whether O’Donnell would like to stick to Phelps’ global dream, the 57-year-old did not hesitate to agree.

“I do 1000%, but I think you gotta make sure that I’ll go back with a quick history lesson for us,” he said on The Varsity podcast. “A lot of our fans kind of in North Carolina, South Carolina felt like NASCAR abandoned them, and we learned a lot of lessons doing that… if you go to a Chicago or Chicago street race, go to Mexico City, you couple that with maybe off-points race or an exhibition at a short track within the US where we’re showcasing kind of our grassroots as well. I think that’s the model is mixing and matching both.”

Phelps’ bid to thrust NASCAR outside of the US was definitely successful, given the 2025 Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, marking the first points-paying event outside the US in nearly 7 decades.

But he didn’t treat the event as a one-off. He openly discussed NASCAR’s broader global vision, including interest in future races in Brazil and possibly beyond, acknowledging the challenges while stressing the importance of expanding the sport’s footprint and connecting with millions of new potential fans.

And while NASCAR has been chasing new markets within the USA, including the San Diego race in June 2026, O’Donnell wants to make things more local.

O’Donnell acknowledges that NASCAR has been losing touch with some of its traditional roots. Over the past two decades, several historic cup venues were dropped from the schedule as NASCAR chased larger markets for new fan experiences.

Tracks like Rockingham Speedway, once a Cup regular, sat dormant for years, and fans watched other classics fade or shift to lower-tier events while the marquee Clash and exhibition races bounced between places like the Los Angeles Colosseum, the Chicago Street course, and Bowman Gray Stadium.

This rotation of non-traditional venues has drawn mixed reactions, leaving nostalgic fans longing for the ovals and short tracks that generations first fell in love with.

That nostalgia runs deep in the NASCAR community, and it’s part of why new leadership under Steve O’Donnell has signaled a shift in strategy. But as venues are getting put in place, O’Donnell may have other plans to shake up NASCAR’s lengthy and busy calendar.

O’Donnell teases major changes in NASCAR Cup schedule

The NASCAR Cup Series currently spans 38 points races over roughly 40 weeks, running from February to November. For most of that stretch, teams are on track nearly every weekend with little downtime.

NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell acknowledged that, while the format has worked, the long grind of the season isn’t necessarily set in stone.

Drivers and plenty of fans have voiced concerns over the years about the lack of off weeks and the overall length of the schedule. By the time the playoffs arrive, the calendar overlaps with football season, and some viewers inevitably shift their attention to the NFL.

That reality has fueled debate about whether a shorter, more streamlined schedule could help maintain energy and viewership deeper into the year.

Speaking on The Varsity podcast, O’Donnell said NASCAR leadership has already begun discussing what the sport could look like in 2030 and beyond.

“We just had a discussion, actually two hours ago, about 2030, 2031, and if you had a clean sheet of paper, what would the sport look like? Is there a number of races that would make more sense? Could it be 30? Could it be more? Could you have midweek races that, you know, shorten the season? So, I would say all that’s on the table,” he said.

Even though the playoff format has been eliminated by the new Chase, a break would do no harm. With several years before the next major media cycle, the door appears open for meaningful change.

The post NASCAR President Unveils Plan to Fulfill Steve Phelps’ Dream Months After Controversial Lawsuit Texts appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Same superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega; same 1.5-mile tracks like Charlotte, Las Vegas and Kansas; same road courses like Sonoma and Watkins Glen (although that has expanded in recent years, thankfully); same bullrings like Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond; and a host of other tracks like Phoenix, Loudon, Michigan and a return this year to Chicagoland to round out the 36-race Cup schedule.

In recent years, we’ve seen NASCAR hold its first-ever street race in Chicago, and there’s great anticipation for this year’s temporary street race on Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.

But one thing quite possibly may outrank everything else from Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 to the season finale in early November at Homestead-Miami:

Will fans be able to trust NASCAR after last year’s contentious anti-trust lawsuit between the sanctioning body vs. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports?

Was NASCAR overconfident heading into the trial, only to be shocked into settling abruptly?

In the lead-up to what would surprisingly be an abbreviated eight-day trial, and then the abrupt settlement where NASCAR essentially gave in to all of the plaintiff’s demands, fans questioned their loyalty to a sport that many believed wasn’t as loyal in kind to them and their favorite teams.

NASCAR was absolutely rocked to its core when revelations became public about numerous verbal or written communications from some of the sport’s top officials criticizing – if not making downright disparaging comments – about individual teams, team owners, drivers, and more.

With Phelps gone, so too is the title of NASCAR commissioner

And while he claimed he left his role voluntarily at the end of last month, many believe now-former commissioner Steve Phelps – who reportedly uttered or wrote some of those comments – had no other choice but to resign or walk the plank and be fired.

While such a possibility may be hard to believe for some, consider this: Phelps held one of the shortest commissioner tenures in all of sports, just 10 months with that distinctive and job-defining title.

But once Phelps announced he was resigning, NASCAR quickly made its own counter-announcement that it would go back in time and no longer have a dedicated commissioner position, even though Phelps had lobbied for that title for several years beforehand, believing it would hold more weight much like Roger Goodell as Commissioner of the NFL.

Rather, the job title of NASCAR Commissioner was a one-and-done with Phelps, and that his chief successor, Steve O’Donnell, will go forward as the sport’s leader and revert to the title of NASCAR President.

Fans initially appear to be forgiving and trusting of NASCAR, but there’s a long season still to go

While it had to endure some downright embarrassing moments when comments and the like became public, NASCAR still did a good job at damage control for all the negative comments that surfaced both before and during the trial.

Now, the 2026 season will be proof in the pudding if that damage control will have successfully done its job long-term, and that fans will once again trust NASCAR going forward.

So far, so good. If fans mistrusted NASCAR, Sunday’s 68^th Running of the Daytona 500 – the Great American Race – would not be sold out both attendance-wise, as well as a full sell-out of advertising spots for FOX Sports.

And there’s also the hard-fought battle by both fans and teams that after years of criticism and calls for a new format, NASCAR finally agreed to change much of its 10-race Cup playoff structure.

That one change alone literally had fans and drivers dancing in the streets, yet another plus for NASCAR to redeem itself in the public’s eyes and hearts.

For much of its history, NASCAR had a bully-like “our way or the highway” mentality, particularly from former president Bill France Jr. But when things suddenly turned bad (like during the recession of 2008 and 2009), NASCAR couldn’t have been more fan-friendly and open to suggestions for positive change for fans to occupy what once used to be filled seats that since had gone empty.

Now, with the fallout from the trial, NASCAR finds itself back to trying to convince fans that it has changed for the better and positive, and that those same fans will miss a lot of good racing, excitement and emotionally-charged competition if they don’t come back into the stock car racing fold.

Plenty of questions still remain — what will the answers ultimately be?

Will fans, drivers and even team owners ultimately give NASCAR a mulligan and once again trust its leaders going forward? Will the new leaders such as O’Donnell realize they can never again take advantage of or try and fool some of the smartest and wisest sports fans in all forms of sport?

As long as NASCAR is trusty and transparent, yes, I think 2026 will be the start of a big comeback for the sport. It may not happen in a few months; it may even take a few years before long-time fans who became disenchanted by the back-room deals and criticizing will return to the cheering and money-spending fold (we’re still waiting if Richard Childress will go through with his threatened suit vs. NASCAR for some of the disparaging and nefarious comments that were directed at and about him).

Yes, NASCAR learned a lot of valuable lessons during the roughly 18 months from filing of the lawsuit on up to the trial itself. That’s why what was originally thought would be a three-week or longer trial barely made it to just eight days of in-court action before NASCAR threw in the towel and offered a settlement.

In the end, it may not have been what NASCAR sought in the trial’s outcome, but once both sides get over any lingering hard feelings and excitement starts building as we go through the 2026 season, it should start NASCAR back on the path to being trusted once again and lead almost everyone back to being happy with the sport as a whole and with each other individually.

We can only hope.

The post Why 2026 May Be One of the Most Important Seasons in NASCAR History appeared first on EssentiallySports.

President’s fresh formula for NASCAR in 2026

During the Daytona Speedweek Media Day, O’Donnell spoke to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and this was when he unraveled the talks about making NASCAR a better sport and far more inclusive.

“Everyone can be a part of NASCAR. And if you look at a race, right, you can come to a race and you can just want the noise and the visual experience,” O’Donnell said. “I may not even like part of the racing, but I love what’s happening with entertainment. We’re a big time sport. We got huge, huge opportunities ahead of us.”

Following this, the NASCAR officials shed light on how welcoming the fans are, as they want to celebrate the sport. NASCAR recognized this, listened to them, and changed the playoff format to bring back the Chase.

“But we also got to embrace the fact that what people loved about us was you could move around, you could have access to drivers, you can have conversations and you can be part of the sport. And the great thing about our fans is you’ve come to the race track and you’re new and you look like, what is this? People are going to embrace you and they have a beer with you or whatever it may be. And then they want to celebrate the sport.”

NASCAR President’s comments on the recent changes came after Tony Stewart slammed him on Thursday regarding Phelps’ comment on Stewart’s business venture, which left the stock car racing fraternity in shock. Phelps, who was running the sport at the time, said, “stick a knife in this trash series.”

The comments were directed towards Stewart’s racing enterprise, Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) racing series, which was exposed in the recently concluded lawsuit trial. The comment not only enraged the fans but also put the NASCAR officials in hot water, leading to Phelps’ removal.

Stewart, who did not let it pass simply, condemned Phelps’s choice of words and criticized O’Donnell, the new NASCAR boss. “I’m going to do my deal. If I run into Steve O’Donnell, then he’ll have to deal with that part. I’m gonna go do me, and I don’t really care what he does this week,” he said.

One would understand why Tony Stewart saying this makes sense, given how the 54-year-old driver spent racing in this sport for nearly two decades, and then ran a Cup Series team for over a decade. With that said, it will be interesting to see how Tony Stewart and Steve O’Donnell react once they meet each other.

Tony Stewart teased NASCAR return

As Tony Stewart is all set to return to NASCAR with the Fresh From Florida 250 at the Daytona International Speedway, this is unlikely to be his last race this season. Teasing a comeback, the former Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner said just ahead of the Daytona Truck race:

“I would have said this was one and done. But let’s just say, I’ll leave it open-ended at this point.”

At Daytona, Stewart will race for Kaulig Racing’s #25 RAM 1500 truck after signing up for RAM’s free-agent driver program. With this, Stewart will return to NASCAR for the first time since 2016, when he retired from the Cup Series.

Stewart’s last Truck Series race was back in 2005, and he has six races to his name. This means that the upcoming Fresh From Florida 250 is set to be “Smoke’s” first race at this prestigious track.

The post NASCAR President Promises Huge Changes in 2026, Hours After Getting Called Out by Tony Stewart appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Tony Stewart on facing the NASCAR president after scandal

“I’m going to do my deal. If I run into Steve O’Donnell, then he’ll have to deal with that part.” Stewart sounds rather bold when it comes to accidentally coming across Steve O’Donnell in the garage. Although the two haven’t gone out after each other, there seems to be a major tension between them.

“I’m gonna go do me, and I don’t really care what he does this week,” Bob Pockrass noted as Stewart said.

This is owing to how the NASCAR authorities felt about Tony Stewart’s Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) racing series, which was exposed in the lawsuit trial. Although it lasted for only three seasons beginning in 2021, it managed to shake up the authorities as it appeared as a business threat.

Before NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit went into trial, text messages amongst the authorities came to light, and seemingly, they were worried about SRX’s growth. Steve Phelps had also asked NASCAR to “stick a knife in this trash series.”

“I recall we all became concerned at the look and feel of the series,” O’Donnell said during the trial.

While there was no real reason for NASCAR to be afraid, considering the relatively small scale at which SRX was operating, they were worried about the future. Understandably, these statements didn’t sit well with Tony Stewart. He had dedicated a large part of his career to running the Cup Series, including his tenure as a team owner with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Now that he is prepared to make a return to racing with Kaulig Racing in the Truck Series, there is quite a possibility that Stewart might run into Steve O’Donnell. Phelps left NASCAR after the lawsuit settled, so O’Donnell seems to be the only bothersome factor for Stewart.

This is also the first time Stewart will run a NASCAR race in ten years, but this situation wouldn’t last long for him. He is running under the Ram Trucks’ free driver program, and his term could last for this race. But his preparations are major, considering his lack of experience in a truck.

The worrying factor for Stewart’s NASCAR return

Stewart ran over 600 races in the Cup Series and almost 100 in the Nationwide Series. However, he lacked similar experience in the Truck Series. Throughout his years of racing, Tony Stewart only raced in trucks a total of six times. Although he did end up winning two of those races, that is very limited experience.

Moreover, the driving style has changed massively in recent years, and the last time that he was behind the wheel of a truck was over two decades ago in 2005. This could make his return rather difficult. He hasn’t raced with the new generation of NASCAR drivers.

However, Stewart seems to be making the most of his time currently. With the changing era, he also seems to have adopted with technology, as he recently uploaded a video of his preparations with iRacing. This is a popular simulator amongst drivers, and while Stewart might not have had the time to run at Daytona in many years, the simulator seems to be helping him out well.

It’s been 10 years since I’ve ran @DAYTONA, and I’ve never done it in a truck. Safe to say, I needed some practice. Thanks to @iRacing , I can do just that. Head over to my YouTube channel and go behind the scenes with me and my spotter, TJ Bell, as we prepare for my upcoming… pic.twitter.com/gwYTv4cE5W

— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 9, 2026

Initially, he had only planned to race at Daytona. However, after Ram Trucks CEO Tim Kuniskis’ major announcement, Stewart might stay for more races. While this is yet to be confirmed, Tony Stewart does seem to be extremely bold with his take against the NASCAR authorities.

His situation is understandable. Although SRX stopped racing because of a lack of popularity, Steve O’Donnell and Steve Phelps’ statements against Stewart and the founders were harsh. While seeing him might give him flashbacks, Tony Stewart has more to prepare for.

The post Tony Stewart Hits Back at NASCAR President Months After Lawsuit Expose appeared first on EssentiallySports.

While there will be a number of changes, fret not: this will still be your father’s NASCAR for the most part (hopefully). Let’s take a look at some of the key storylines to keep your eye on between this week and the season’s end in early November:

1. LEADERSHIP

With Steve Phelps gone as NASCAR’s first-ever (and likely to be the last) commissioner, Steve O’Donnell, who took over the position of President last March, becomes the man in charge.

O’Donnell has worked his way up through the ranks over his 30 years with the organization. He’s already put his stamp on a number of areas, including the new playoff structure for this season.

It will be interesting to see if O’Donnell, who was significantly mentored during the early days of his career by former NASCAR president Mike Helton, will revert to NASCAR’s history of conservative leadership and minimalistic changes or if he will continue the sport’s recent trend toward trying new types of events and venues (i.e., Chicago Street Race, the upcoming race on the U.S. Navy base in San Diego, the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and the points race this year at North Wilkesboro Speedway).

2. NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT

It took several years of considering a number of different changes in the playoff format, but we finally have a new format that is effective starting with the season-opening Daytona 500.

The new format is a combination of reverting to part of the old and original Chase for the Nextel Cup format, but with a broader field that will make the second half of the 10-race playoff more exciting and offer more chances for drivers to qualify for the championship.

3. DENNY HAMLIN’S FUTURE

2025 was a heartbreaking year in many ways for veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin. He appeared on the verge of winning his first Cup championship, only to lose it in the closing laps of the season finale in Phoenix to Kyle Larson. The way that all played out was one of the biggest factors that prompted NASCAR to change the playoff format for 2026.

And then, just over a month later, Hamlin suffered the kind of tragedy no one should endure: his father Dennis was killed in a house fire that also caused critical injuries to Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou, who continues to recover.

Then, while sifting through the debris of his parents’ house, Denny slipped and fell and tore a previously surgically-repaired shoulder muscle. There wasn’t enough time remaining in the off-season for him to have another surgery to repair the new damage, so he’ll have to race throughout 2026 with the injury.

Can Hamlin overcome all the heartbreak and sadness and focus on giving it one more try to win that ever-elusive Cup championship, or will 2026 potentially be his last season as a driver?

4. COULD THIS BE KYLE BUSCH’S FINAL SEASON?

Kyle Busch enters his 23^rd Cup season coming off two notable milestones – neither of which was good. First, he extended his current winless streak to 93, the longest of his Cup career. Second, his overall performance in 2025 – 0 wins, just 3 top five and 10 top 10 finishes – was a career-worst single-season showing.

Richard Childress Racing was expected to not renew Kyle Busch’s contract after the 2025 season, but decided to ultimately give him a one-year extension through 2026 so that he could stick around and serve as a mentor for young drivers Jesse Love and Austin Hill – and likely replacements for both Busch and Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon (who is likely to call it a career at the end of 2026 or 2027).

Kyle Busch has seen what retirement has meant and done for older brother Kurt, who was one of three new inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last month. And with Kyle’s son Brexton becoming a promising young driver in his own right, it may be the right time for dad to step aside and become his son’s coach, as well as his already established role as Brexton’s No. 1 fan (along with mother Samantha).

But given how competitive the younger Busch brother has been for nearly 30 years, starting with racing Legends cars as a kid all the way through his lengthy resume in Cup, O’Reilly, and Trucks, don’t be completely surprised if he still winds up racing part-time once his tenure with RCR ends at the end of the 2026 campaign.

5. WILL THIS FINALLY BE SVG’S BREAKTHROUGH YEAR ON OVALS?

New Zealand native Shane Van Gisbergen electrified the NASCAR Cup world by winning five of six road course races last season, only to fail to advance forward in the playoffs after the first round of eliminations.

There’s no question SVG is the best road course driver to come along in the Cup Series since Jeff Gordon, but van Gisbergen continues to be hounded by one major criticism: he has yet to win on an oval. In fact, he has managed just one top 10 finish on an oval (10^th at Kansas during last season’s playoffs).

With six wins on his Cup resume – all road course victories – in 50 overall career starts, van Gisbergen has had more than enough development time to improve his performance on ovals. As great as he is on a road course, 2026 has to be a must-win situation for him on an oval.

One thing to note: SVG and the rest of the Cup contingent will have one less road course race on the schedule this season, as the fall playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will revert to racing on the full 1.5-mile oval that we see during the Memorial Day Coca-Cola 600 event, rather than the Roval road course in CMS’s infield that has been utilized the last eight seasons.

It’s great to be a road course ace, but if he can’t master ovals, van Gisbergen likely will forever be known as a one-trick pony rather than an overall master of all types of tracks, from short ovals to midsize to superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega.

6. ANCHORS AWAY!

In what could potentially be one of the most memorable races in NASCAR history, fans, media, drivers, and teams are all anticipating the June 21^st Anduril 250 on a temporary road course built within the confines of Naval Base Coronado across the bay from San Diego.

The race will present a double whammy of importance and patriotic pride: Not only will it celebrate the 250^th birthday of the United States, but it also marks the 250^th birthday of the U.S. military.

NASCAR is pumping significant capital into the race, both in building the temporary layout and in significantly promoting the event not only in the U.S., but also across the nearby border in Mexico.

7. KEEP YOUR EYES ON TWO DRIVERS IN PARTICULAR

2026 promises to be an exciting season, and for at least two drivers, this coming season quite possibly will be an immediate breakout season for two very young but also extremely talented pilots. We’re not expecting miracles or putting undue pressure on them, but Connor Zilisch and Corey Heim could both have unforgettable rookie Cup seasons.

8. CAN KYLE LARSON REPEAT AS A THREE-TIME CUP CHAMPION?

Based upon significant fan comments on social media or on outlets such as SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, where they can let their voices and opinions be heard, there’s significant concern that Larson did not deserve to win the 2025 championship because he didn’t have as successful a season as others like Hamlin had and should have taken the crown.

Can Larson win a third title in a way that fans might consider more legitimate, rather than be aided by a fluke in the old playoff system that allowed him to win last year’s Cup crown?

9. WHAT ONCE WAS OLD IS NOW NEW AGAIN

NASCAR has gone back in time in 2026, with a full-fledged points race returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway, the first points-paying Cup race there since 1996. Once given up for dead, the track simply known as “Wilkesboro” has been brought back to life in the last few years with a massive rehabilitation and rejuvenation, with strong encouragement from Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Now in 2026, it’ll be back to being a points-paying event. But Wilkesboro isn’t the only old-is-new return to the NASCAR schedule. The 1.5-mile oval at Chicagoland Speedway returns to action for the first time since its last race in 2019, as the three-year experiment on a temporary street course (the first time ever in NASCAR history) in downtown Chicago has supposedly put on indefinite hiatus, and CLS will once again be hosting NASCAR for at least the next three years.

But wait, there’s even more old-is-new: after hosting the Championship Weekend for Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks for 18 consecutive years (2002 through 2019), Homestead-Miami Speedway yielded to Phoenix Raceway from 2020 through 2025. But now the championship weekend is back in the South Beach area for at least one year. NASCAR is still trying to decide whether it will continue the season finale weekend in Homestead or if it will rotate the finale around two different tracks every year or every few years (including a potential return to Phoenix at some point).

10. HEY, DOES THAT THING GOT A HEMI IN IT?

After a 13-year absence, Dodge and Mopar are back in NASCAR, albeit with the RAM subsidiary competing in the Truck Series in 2026. Kaulig Racing will hold the exclusive partnership with RAM for at least 2026 and beyond, but there’s potentially more to it – much more to it. If rumors are to be believed, the actual parent Dodge brand will soon become the fourth manufacturer in the Cup and O’Reilly Series – joining Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota – as early as 2027 or 2028.

For those of you who may have forgotten, Team Penske, driver Brad Keselowski, and Dodge won the Cup championship in 2012, Dodge’s last season in NASCAR. With RAM Trucks bringing the Dodge nameplate back into the mix, Dodge in the Cup and O’Reilly Series can’t be too far behind.

What’s more, Ford is losing two of the six organizations it had in 2025 for the 2026 campaign – the Haas Factory Team and Rick Ware Racing are both shifting from Ford to Chevrolet – that will leave the Blue Oval with only four organizations and 10 total teams in the Cup ranks in 2026: Team Penske, Front Row Motorsports, RFK Racing (3 cars per each team) and the one car solo operation for Wood Brothers Racing.

The Blue Oval is increasing its footprint in other racing series in 2026, including Formula One (returns to F1 in 2026 through a partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing), as well as IMSA and WEC.

And even though Ford has repeatedly said it has no interest in joining IndyCar, if Honda pulls out of the American open-wheel series after the 2026 season (as has been rumored) – leaving just Chevrolet for 2027 and beyond – Ford would be absolutely foolish not to consider replacing Honda if such a situation ultimately arises.

The post 10 of the Most Important NASCAR Storylines to Follow in 2026 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Hamlin’s thoughtful answer reflected more than just courtesy; it underscored a belief that the NASCAR leadership shift could spark renewed momentum for the sport.

“I overall left there feeling that the direction and the vision that they’ve got for this upcoming season is good. I certainly am a believer in the direction that they’re going. Ultimately, the results will be seen in our TV audience and our people in the stands, and whether it resonates with them or not,” he said.

One of Steve O’Donnell’s biggest accomplishments was overseeing the introduction of NASCAR streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

While the organization has faced challenges with overall TV ratings in recent seasons, there are signs that changes in media strategy, many of which were championed operationally by Steve O’Donnell, are helping stabilize and even grow the sport’s audience in key ways.

After a decline in traditional broadcast viewership, NASCAR’s Cup Series races on Amazon Prime Video have drawn strong numbers, averaging around 2.1 million viewers per race, with some events topping 2 million and attracting notably younger audiences compared with traditional TV figures.

This suggests that NASCAR, being pushed into streaming, something O’Donnell has supported as part of modernizing NASCAR’s media approach, is paying off by reaching fans who aren’t tuning in through conventional channels.

However, as the older generation found it difficult to access the stream, the media strategy still had its benefits. While some traditional ratings metrics have dipped, the story is more nuanced: NASCAR is still drawing significant audiences, especially where younger fans are tuning in, and digital platforms are increasingly critical to sports visibility.

Before becoming president in 2025, O’Donnell served as NASCAR’s chief operating officer and was central to implementing stage racing, the playoff format, and developing the Next Gen car, all major competitive elements that shape how the sport feels on race day.

O’Donnell has also championed expanding NASCAR’s international presence, for example, the Mexico City race last year, and improving the fan experience at tracks nationwide, signaling a vision for growth and modernization that blends with evolution.

Hamlin’s confidence in NASCAR’s direction underlines a broad optimism among team owners that the sport has hit a reset point, a moment to refocus on competitive relevance and reconnect with its core audience.

However, as the lawsuit has settled down and everything remains stable as of now for Hamlin, the 45-year-old cannot help but predict the future of his struggling 23XI Racing star.

Hamlin casts a shadow over 23XI Racing driver’s NASCAR future

Denny Hamlin isn’t hiding behind big optimism when it comes to Riley Herbst. The 23XI Racing co-owner is openly backing his driver, but he’s making it crystal clear: the No. 35 Toyota needs to show real progress this season and soon.

The time invested in Herbst is for the long haul, but that commitment comes with expectations that can’t be ignored by Hamlin.

At a recent preseason media event, he addressed the pressure surrounding Herbst directly, admitting that last season’s performance simply wasn’t acceptable for a team with championship aspirations.

“We signed a multi-year agreement with Riley because we want to see where it goes in the second year,” he said. “At this point, he’s got enough starts where learning the car shouldn’t be the main focus anymore. And certainly I want to see a gain in performance. Needs to be challenging inside that top 10, top 15 – that’s where we expect our cars to run.”

Herbst heads into the 2026 Cup season with a target on his back after a rookie year that never truly took off. He finished 35th in the standings, never cracked the top 10, and managed just eight top 20 finishes.

After a promising start at Daytona, the results steadily slipped during the West Coast stretch, and the final 31 races included only four top 20 showings and 10 finishes outside the top 30.

Those numbers have naturally led to criticism and doubts about whether he’s ready for a full-time Cup ride.

The post Denny Hamlin Puts Confidence in NASCAR’s Future After Steve Phelps’ Exit appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Harvick evaluates the lawsuit consequences for NASCAR and teams

On his Happy Hour, Kevin Harvick viewed the entire situation optimistically and first perceived the situation from NASCAR’s side.

“From a NASCAR side, I believe they have an opportunity to really look at themselves and say, ‘Okay, what did we learn through all this and how can we reshape our company. Is this a good opportunity to reshape things and the internal structure of how it all happened?'”

There’s no point in sulking over the loss. Harvick’s point makes sense, where NASCAR can use this experience to self-introspect in every way. This is because the lawsuit didn’t just address the core issue. Throughout the entire process, a lot of collateral damage and other problematic aspects came out, be it NASCAR’s fear of competition from other series or the leaked text scandal that involved insults towards veterans like Richard Childress. Harvick commented on the implications of that too.

“Obviously, Steve Phelps, he stepped down after this was all said and done. We know that the comments that he made about Richard Childress and what he said in those texts became public. I think we all talk about our friends, here and there. You might text some things that you probably don’t mean. In the end, they came out in a court of law and it became public information.

“Steve has done a lot of great things in our sport, but I don’t think that from a fan’s perspective, they could overcome the fact that he said these things about one of the most iconic figures in the sport. They had to save face, so somebody was going to have to take the fall in the end.”

But apart from this, Harvick also addressed a unique problem that was solved for the plaintiff teams with the lawsuit’s closure. The ongoing lawsuit had collateral damage on teams in the sense that drivers would think twice before joining them, knowing their uncertain future.

“When you look at trying to hire employees and doing all the things that they were trying to do. I think there were still a lot of question marks of, ‘Okay, is this team actually still going to be here? When this all gets done. If they lose, I don’t want to go to work there right now.’ So I think there are still things, that from a team standpoint, 23XI is going to have to build back up. I feel like they probably missed out the opportunity of hiring some employees along the line because of the fight that they were in.”

Overall, Harvick sees the lawsuit’s end as a turning point for everyone, and not just one party. It’s a chance for NASCAR to reassess its structure and for the teams to finally have that stability they wanted with a secure future.

Meanwhile, the season’s start is still in jeopardy with the weather situation in North Carolina for the Clash, and Harvick took a dig at it.

Harvick slyly points to a sunny location

Mother Nature has been particularly uncooperative ahead of the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. As per the latest update, the event’s shifted to Wednesday, February 4. Plus, it’s not just the event, but the entire journey to Winston-Salem is also risky. Officials and crew are doing their best, but still nothing can be said about what happens on the day.

Amid this, Kevin Harvick drew attention to Kern Raceway.

“65* and sunny @KernRaceway today. ”

It’s just the second year that the Clash is happening at Bowman Gray. Before that, the exhibition race was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, California.

The consequences of changing that venue can truly be felt now, as the forecasts are hinting at double-digit snow figures. Let’s hope the weather has a change of mood by Wednesday.

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