Will We Ever See Another NASCAR and IndyCar Doubleheader?

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

America’s premier stock car series and America’s top open-wheel series. NASCAR and IndyCar have held the top spots in the U.S. since their inceptions regarding motorsports. The two series have come together multiple times, most recently at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2020 to 2023. With the return of the Brickyard 400, the NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader was put to rest for the foreseeable future, leaving many fans wondering if we’ll ever see the two series team up once again. Will the two series host another doubleheader, and if so, where could it be? Let’s talk about it.

  • NASCAR and IndyCar last held a doubleheader in 2023 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The IndyCar race ran on Saturday with the Xfinity Series, while the Cup Series ran on Sunday. With the return of the Brickyard 400, it left the two series incompatible for the same weekend.
  • The two series share multiple tracks on the schedule. Tracks like Iowa, Gateway, Nashville, and even a possible return to the road course are not out of the equation for a possible NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader.
  • Fans love to see more racing. The doubleheader at the Brickyard provided just that. While that has gone away, it’s possible to bring it back at a new venue for the top motorsports series in America.

When Could it Happen?

A NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader is not planned for the foreseeable future. NASCAR has yet to unveil its 2025 schedule, but IndyCar released its 2025 calendar last month during its FOX Sports announcement. Barring any massive news, it’s safe to say the two series will not have a doubleheader next year. So when could the next NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader happen?

With FOX Sports acquiring the TV rights to IndyCar, it’s possible that the doubleheader would happen during the FOX portion of the NASCAR schedule, which will be the first 14 races of the season starting next year. As of the current 2025 IndyCar schedule, zero races share both series during that time span, from February to May. However, with future schedule changes and year two for both series under their new TV rights agreement, FOX could set up a doubleheader in 2026 during the spring months. Most likely, there’s no doubleheader for 2025, but keep an eye on 2026 as the next chance to pull it off.

What Tracks Could Host?

Whenever NASCAR and IndyCar decide to have a doubleheader again, the track they chose will be just as important as the doubleheader itself. Again, no 2025 schedule for NASCAR has been announced, but it’s safe to say the tracks the two share time with will continue going into next season and beyond. Currently, the Cup Series and IndyCar race on four of the same tracks:

  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway)
  • Iowa Speedway
  • Nashville Superspeedway

If these four tracks stay on each schedule, which one would host? For starters, IMS would not host another NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader. Those dates will stay separated unless NASCAR decides to move the Brickyard 400 to Indy 500 weekend or vice versa. Nashville Superspeedway is a possibility; however, the track hosts IndyCar’s season finale. It is unlikely that IndyCar would want to share the spotlight with NASCAR during their final race of the season.

That leaves the two short ovals of Gateway and Iowa. Gateway is rumored to be moving to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs next season, which is out of the FOX portion of the schedule. That leaves Iowa Speedway as the most likely track to host a NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader. Iowa has yet to be confirmed for NASCAR, but the track expects to make its return. It’s the date with the most flexibility for both series and has seen tremendous support from both fanbases. If any track were to host the next NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader, it’s Iowa Speedway.

The Benefits

When the NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader was announced in 2020, it was a historic moment for not just the two series but auto racing in the United States. While the individual races might have received mixed reviews, the doubleheader as a whole garnered praise from fans. Mixing both racing series would open the door for new fans for both series once again and can turn the weekend into a true motorsports event.

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

We’ve seen multiple drivers from different racing disciplines dip their toes in both series. From Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen coming from Supercars to Jimmie Johnson going from NASCAR to IndyCar, there has been a trend of drivers across the world coming to the U.S. to try their hand at the top motorsports of the country. A doubleheader would also open the opportunity for a current IndyCar or NASCAR driver to try their hand at both series on the same weekend. Kyle Larson recently attempted the Memorial Day Double in different states and tracks. Imagine that, but on the same track on the same weekend. Both parties have proven before they can cooperate together. If they do so again, the possibilities are endless.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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