The Complete 2026 NASCAR National Series Schedules: Cup, O’Reilly, & Truck Series
What’s Happening? The official 2026 NASCAR National Series schedules are out, and there are quite a few notable changes for all…
While the 2026 NASCAR Schedule Silly Season may be in the books, the NTT IndyCar Series has yet to finalize its schedule, meaning its silly season is alive and well, and, per a new report, the top division of American open wheel could cross paths with NASCAR’s top division next season.
Much like NASCAR’s schedule as of late, the NTT IndyCar Series schedule is rumored to be undergoing major changes in the upcoming season. This comes as a little surprise, as the series is due for an overhaul.
As part of these rumors, fans have lobbied for several tracks to join the schedule, including 1.5-mile ovals, short tracks, and Road courses. A common trend among IndyCar fans is a campaign to add a flat banked oval to the calendar.
Most hoped that Richmond Raceway, which was supposed to be a part of the 2020 schedule, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, would be that track. However, a new report from Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star claims that Phoenix Raceway will be that track.
From 1964 to 2005, and 2016 to 2018, Phoenix was a staple of the United States’ three historic open-wheel series. This return would mark the IndyCar race at the track since 2018, and the first at the track since its late 2018 reconfiguration.
Furthermore, this will be a joint weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series at the one-mile oval in Arizona during the Mar. 6-8 race weekend. If this is the case, it will be the first time since the 2020 season that the top division of IndyCar and the top division of NASCAR will race at the same track on the same weekend.
The last time this happened was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Indy cars and Xfinity series cars racing on the road course, while NASCAR raced on the oval for what was then rumored to be the final time.
If this becomes reality, it will also be the second NASCAR national series in the IndyCar crossover of 2026, as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will join the IndyCar Series at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg during the weekend of Feb. 28 and 29.
While no driver has yet confirmed any plans, many fans are speculating that the St. Petersburg race could lead to some IndyCar drivers hopping behind the wheel of a truck that same weekend. With the rumored addition of Phoenix to the IndyCar calendar, these questions could translate over to the Xfinity and/or Cup Series joint weekend.
At press time, IndyCar has yet to announce its 2026 schedule, though an announcement is drawing ever closer.
What’s Happening? The official 2026 NASCAR National Series schedules are out, and there are quite a few notable changes for all…
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