NASCAR Confirms the Return of Fan Favorite Pre-Season Event in 2027
What’s Happening? For the first time in over a decade, NASCAR will host its Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway…
With the return of NASCAR’s Pre-Season Thunder test, fans are wondering how many cars might be at this test. During a recent interview, NASCAR Official Brad Moran said that he imagines the test could be bigger than the sport’s recent test sessions.
What’s Happening? For the first time in over a decade, NASCAR will host its Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway…
NASCAR fans everywhere are excited about what officials are deeming the return of Pre-season Thunder. This early-season test historically has seen large numbers of teams take to the banks of Daytona ahead of the new season.
But over the past two decades, NASCAR has significantly curtailed teams’ testing, with most tests featuring only a few cars from different OEMs and usually one driver per team at select tracks, with NASCAR hosting the entire event.
For example, a test at Chicagoland Speedway later this month will feature just three drivers from three manufacturers testing tires ahead of the track’s return to the schedule.
What’s Happening? Ahead of Chicagoland Speedway’s first NASCAR race since 2019, NASCAR will host a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup…
NASCAR has not held Pre-season Thunder this decade, and fans are wondering whether the 2027 edition will feature smaller fields or host most, if not all, of the Cup Series field next year.
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran said that the sport understands that superspeedway tests require large packs.
“We don’t have a ton of detail yet,” Moran said. “But if we’re doing a test at a superspeedway, it’s very difficult to do if you don’t have a lot of cars.”
While there are no set plans for the event just yet, Moran said he imagines the test will be “bigger than most,” though he did not guarantee a full field.
“Whether it’ll be an entire open test to the entire, I can’t say for sure, but I would imagine it’s gonna be bigger than most.” — Brad Moran
The return of this pre-season test session was a surprise for sure, but given the state of NASCAR’s superspeedway racing product, fans are welcoming it with open arms.
NASCAR EVP Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst announced the plans on an episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast last month, saying that they plan to use the session to find a new setup for the Cup Series at these types of tracks.
Probst said the options NASCAR could test at the track include “different power levels and spoilers, and maybe some other car-type things.”
While NASCAR has yet to set a date for the test, it might not be the only pre-season event at the track, as their findings from Pre-Season Thunder could be used in the race for the first time in the Clash, which is rumored to be returning to Daytona, though this is still not confirmed.
What’s Happening? A new rumor suggests that NASCAR officials are discussing moving the preseason Clash back to Daytona International Speedway in…
Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
