How Do Teams Execute the New-Look NASCAR in 2026?

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The full scope of the changes to the NASCAR Cup Series can be felt at Phoenix Raceway. 

Phoenix is the first real race in a season with a totally overhauled championship format that has changed the way teams see each race.

“The points format is such a drastic mindset shift. We’ve been making sure that everyone has been embracing that mindset where you don’t goose egg. Before, you could kind of take some risks at times. Once you had a win, it was about stacking wins from there. Now, every race is pretty critical,” said Travis Geisler, competition director of Team Penske.

First up with the “true” start to the season is the first oval race with the 750-horsepower package.

“The 750 deal, changes rear tire deg, how you manage it, how you do your setups, how you fade the same way to make the drivers comfortable. Those are the key factors for us,” Geisler said.

More horsepower means a near-guarantee of more tire wear with the same tire compound as the fall race, where a plethora of drivers experienced issues. Teams have had limited track time — mostly just a test at North Wilkesboro — to understand what the tire wear and horsepower bump will do. 

“The preparation, the simulation, the 7-post, the aero in the wind tunnel, simulation offline. You try to pick them apart and pick the best parts,” Geisler said. “This is going to be a huge test to see what this is going to be like on all of these short tracks.”

Phoenix also kicks off a stretch of seven races where every track will appear in the Chase again.

“You have to be focused and learn what you need to go for a championship when you come back in the fall,” Geisler said.

With the limited time, Penske’s three teams have come to lean on each other.

“We’ve gotten really good at this. You gotta make sure if the 2 car’s trying it, the 12 car can do it, then the 22 car can do it,” Geisler said. 

In the race, avoiding mistakes has become even more important. 

“It even comes down to pit stops. You look at a wheel falling off now is such a massive penalty because you carry that into the playoffs. You don’t get to reset that. Before that, it was marginalized when you make a mistake, like ‘Ahhh they already have a win, it’s gonna hurt you a little bit, it’s not a big deal.,” Geisler said.

Even big calls, such as Joey Logano’s massive, 100-plus-lap fuel gamble at Nashville Superspeedway in 2024, is likely not feasible in the points play that dominates the series now. Neither are big, aggressive moves with high risk for some reward.

“If you goose egg there, it kills you. Where you probably play it safe and come to pit road and try to run 10th or 12th and save your day,” Geisler said. “It’s a little decisions that go a long way and it’s the same way with the drivers. They can’t just sail it in there anymore.”

Penske has two big metrics to hit, according to Geisler.

“What we’ve done is create a trajectory of what it takes to be top three in points and what it takes to be 16th. The 16th is a prerequisite, we’ve gotta hit those numbers. The top three is a goal if you’re looking to contend for a championship again,” Geisler said.

“We’re going to have to be top three to be in contention for the championship.”

Geisler added being any lower means the championship odds diminish greatly.

If you’re sixth, seventh, it’s going to be a tall mountain to climb getting into the playoffs. When you’re top three, it’s about even standing,” Geisler said. “You go into the final 10 and you’re 10th or 12th, I don’t know if you have a real good shot at winning the championship.”

Here’s how Team Penske’s driver stack up after three races:

• Ryan Blaney: 4th (-14 to third, +35 to Chase cutline)
• Joey Logano: 6th (-24 to third, +25 to Chase cutline)
• Austin Cindric: 31st (-75 to third, -29 to Chase cutline)

Tyler Reddick has jumped out to a 70-point lead after winning the first three races. By relatively substantial margins, Reddick already leads regular season title favorites like Chase Elliott (-72), Ryan Blaney (-86), William Byron (-110), Kyle Larson (-113), Denny Hamlin (-126), Christopher Bell (-127) and Chase Briscoe (-140).