• Ryan McGee

Feb 10, 2026, 09:45 AM ET

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All of this while another garage generational shift begins to feel imminent. Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, even Joey Logano — all future NASCAR Hall of Famers — are way closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. Meanwhile, two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron has yet to reach 30. Zilisch is 19!

It’s a lot to keep track of, but thankfully, it mostly involves the track itself. Not ill-advised texts. Not billable hours. Not screaming matches over gimmicky points systems nor committee meetings to discuss whether or not to overhaul those systems.

Jim France, NASCAR chairman and the uncomfortable face of the sanctioning body’s side of the antitrust fight, said it best in December, as he stood beside Jordan, who had just dunked on France in court behind them like France was a thick-thighed center caught flatfooted on a court elsewhere.

Said France, the man who hates speaking in public, but now speaking on behalf of the entire NASCAR public: “We can get back to focusing on what we really love. And that’s racing.”

No one knows how good that racing will be in 2026. Honestly, as we all descend upon the World Center of Racing in the coming days, it doesn’t feel like anyone cares. They’re just ready to get on with any racing at all, restless to tap into that “happiest place on the planet” sensation with the hope of feeling clean again, even if only for that first lap.

Is NASCAR back? That’s a big question and one we won’t be able to begin to answer until nine months from now, at least. But NASCAR racing is indeed back, under somewhat new management and with a significantly new title format.

A green flag washcloth reset button that couldn’t get here fast enough.