NASCAR might be cooking up a pretty big change for 2026, and it’s already got people buzzing. The sanctioning body is considering allowing Cup Series drivers to race more frequently in the Xfinity and Truck Series, according to an August 19 report in the Sports Business Journal.
For some, that sounds like a dream. For others? A nightmare.
This all comes as O’Reilly Auto Parts gets ready to step in as the new title sponsor and The CW ramps up its broadcast deal.
Put together, it feels like NASCAR is trying to reset the stage for its “minor league” series, though depending on who you ask, that could either be a huge win for fans or a step backward for young talent trying to break through.
Steve O’Donnell Hints at Possible NASCAR Rule Tweaks for 2026
According to the Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, the current rules, basically a cap of five races per season for Cup drivers with three-plus years of full-time experience, and no playoff appearances allowed, are under review. NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell even hinted at it himself recently:
“We’re going to look at who can race in the series in the future as well and maybe make some changes down the road… we’ve had discussions with The CW and in the Truck Series as well, ‘Does that rule as it stands now make the most sense to continue as it is? Do we tweak it?”
He added more context in another comment, praising the work Xfinity had done with their drivers and marketing efforts:
“It’s interesting — Xfinity did a great job with that, and we’ve certainly passed that along to O’Reilly in terms of what drivers can do with the drivers and industry. So not sure yet exactly how that will look and feel, but certainly something to build on there.”
So clearly, the league is thinking not just about competition, but about how star power and branding play together in this next era.
Kyle Busch’s Dominance Sparked NASCAR’s Rules, but Larson Wants Them Loosened
The restrictions weren’t random; they came back in 2020 after years of Cup drivers dominating the lower series. If you’ve followed the sport a while, you’ll remember the term “Buschwhackers,” when guys like Kyle Busch regularly mopped the floor with full-time Xfinity drivers.
To put it in perspective: Busch has 102 career Xfinity wins. Thirteen of those came in one season (2010). No surprise that NASCAR eventually said, “Okay, enough of that.”
But not everyone agrees that the limits have been good for the sport. Some say the smaller fields have lost a bit of star power, which hurts attendance and TV numbers.
Take Kyle Larson. After winning an Xfinity race at Bristol earlier this year, he didn’t exactly bite his tongue: “I want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit because they just don’t let Cup guys run anymore… I like to go run those Xfinity races and just get 10-second leads to let them realize that they’ve got a lot of room to improve.”
Larson’s point? More Cup drivers could push the young guys harder, and maybe make the racing sharper.
NASCAR Faces Tough Call: Boost Ratings with Cup Drivers or Protect Young Talent?
Here’s where it gets messy. On one side, you’ve got the argument that Cup drivers, big names like Larson, Busch, or Denny Hamlin, sell tickets, move merch, and pull in TV ratings. (For example, The CW’s coverage reportedly saw a 17% ratings bump in 2025.)
But on the flip side, the young talent benefits from having the spotlight without constantly playing second fiddle to Cup regulars. Guys like Ty Gibbs, Justin Allgaier, or Connor Zilisch have been able to build careers thanks to the breathing room the rule created.
So, do you pack the house with stars, or let the next generation shine? That’s the heart of the debate, and it’s not an easy call.
NASCAR’s 2025–26 Shakeup: From Charter Fights to International Expansion
NASCAR isn’t making decisions in a vacuum. They’ve got the new 2025 charter system hanging over their heads, ongoing lawsuits from teams like 23XI Racing, and fresh commitments from sponsors who want the sport to keep growing.
If the rules are loosened, expect powerhouse teams like Joe Gibbs Racing or JR Motorsports to sprinkle Cup drivers into more Xfinity and Truck races. That could shake up sponsorship deals, team strategies, and even the ladder system for drivers trying to work their way up.
O’Reilly’s long-term commitment and The CW’s TV muscle mean NASCAR wants to maximize the moment. Even internationally, the Xfinity Series just returned to Mexico in 2025, with Daniel Suarez grabbing the win. So, there’s a big-picture play here.
At the end of the day, this rule tweak could either supercharge NASCAR’s lower-tier series or crush the momentum of rising stars. Maybe it’ll be both.
The real question: do fans want to see Cup veterans rack up more wins in Xfinity and Trucks, or would they rather watch the next wave of talent try to carve out their own space?
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