NASCAR’s In‑Season Challenge, the series’ mid‑season playoff format, will look markedly different when the 2026 schedule rolls out.
Key Changes for 2026
The championship’s backbone will shift as two of the current venues are dropped, making way for fresh locations that promise a new competitive dynamic.
Chicagoland Speedway, which last held a Cup Series event in 2019, is slated to host its first race of the new era, taking the spot previously occupied by the Chicago Street Course.
The Chicago Street Course, introduced in 2023 and used for the tournament’s second race in 2025, will be replaced by a street‑style event on Naval Base Coronado, a U.S. Navy installation in California.
Venues Making Way for New Opportunities
Dover Motor Speedway, a long‑standing track that featured a tournament race in 2025, will no longer carry points‑paying weight, though it will still stage an exhibition All‑Star Race later in the year.
North Wilkesboro Speedway, a historic half‑mile venue that hasn’t hosted a points‑counting race in decades, is set to re‑enter the playoff picture with a dedicated tournament event.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval will cede its playoff date to the oval configuration, ending its recent stint as a road‑course playoff host.
The Brickyyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains anchored as the season‑ending championship race, preserving a tradition that fans associate with the sport’s climax.
Other adjustments include a swap of dates between Sonoma Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, while the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City enjoyed a brief one‑year appearance before being removed.