NASCAR VP Ben Kennedy is quietly laying the groundwork for bold expansion. Familiar tracks are making comebacks, new ones are turning heads, and what’s coming next could reshape the sport entirely. The signs are there, and they are hard to miss.

The 2026 schedule kicks off major changes, bringing back Chicagoland, adding a San Diego street race, and dropping Mexico City and Chicago’s downtown course. This shake-up revives Midwest racing at Joliet after seven years and introduces San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado as a first-time venue. And Ben Kennedy said fan demand led to North Wilkesboro’s new points race.

These changes mirror NASCAR’s 1997 move to Fontana, initially met with resistance but ultimately expanding the fan base. Now, similar risks are being taken to blend tradition with grow

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