Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR's Ben Kennedy reveals timeline for 2026 schedule reveal

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones07/23/25brianjones_93
NASCAR logo (2)
Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

The NASCAR 2026 schedule might be released to the fans very soon. While speaking to reporters during a Zoom call, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer, said the schedule should be out in “a few weeks or so.”

Kennedy said this after NASCAR announced it would be heading to San Diego for a road course race next year. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy, NASCAR will have the race at Naval Base Coronado to highlight the 2026 schedule. NASCAR will have Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series races at the Naval base on June 19-21, 2026.

“As part of our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are honored for NASCAR to join the celebration as we host our first street race at a military base, Naval Base Coronado,” Kennedy said in a press release. “NASCAR San Diego Weekend will honor the Navy’s history and the men and women who serve as we take the best motorsports in the world to the streets of Naval Base Coronado.”

More on the NASCAR 2026 schedule

NASCAR is still finalizing the 2026 schedule, and the drivers could be heading back to a familiar track next year. It’s been reported that NASCAR is looking to return to Chicagoland Speedway since it’s likely the Chicago Street Race won’t happen in 2026. NASCAR had Cup Series races at Chicagoland from 2001 to 2019. The race was canceled in 2020 and dropped from the schedule in 2021.

“A return to Chicagoland could happen in 2026, but it’s no sure thing. Right now, the focus within NASCAR, those sources said, is to finalize the San Diego race and sort out the respective futures of Mexico City and the Chicago Street Race. Chicagoland, though, is an option if a spot opens up,” Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported last week.

Along with heading to San Diego and potentially returning to Chicagoland, the NASCAR 2026 schedule could have an extra week off. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft, the spotter for Bubba Wallace, pointed out that next season should have two off weeks based on how the schedule lays out. He said that there will be 37 events 39 weeks.