NASCAR has revealed a set of technical updates in its rulebook scheduled for release on Friday afternoon, including the official list of tracks that will use 750-horsepower tapered spacers and provisions for welcoming new manufacturers. The tracks Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway are confirmed to adopt the Short Track Rules Package next season, marking the first time in the NextGen era that short tracks will run with anything other than the 670-horsepower tapered spacer. These tracks will also no longer be classified as intermediate tracks and will benefit from the horsepower boost and a simplified rear diffuser from previous seasons.
The A-flap post, which helps keep cars stable in the air and debuted at Daytona in August and again at Talladega in October, will become mandatory at every track in the 2026 schedule, with the flap needing to be painted bright orange instead of another bright color for easier visibility. NASCAR also introduced testing regulations for new Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), allowing up to three tests per new OEM with a limit of three affiliated teams using two cars each. Tests must be completed by March 1st and are prohibited on newly resurfaced tracks, new schedule tracks, or tracks hosting events within 60 days.
NASCAR defines a “new OEM” as any manufacturer that hasn’t competed in the series over the past five racing seasons—a category that could include brands like Dodge, which last raced in the Cup Series in 2012 but is returning to the Truck Series under Stellantis’ RAM brand, as well as Honda, which is reportedly considering entering the Cup Series. The rulebook also updates backup engine protocols, specifying that all backup engines must be declared to NASCAR before events, with limits on the number of backup engines tied to the number of teams provided by an engine builder. Backup engines must be inspected and sealed if installed after arriving at the track.
While the updated rules were released today, they are not final, with the charter agreement setting a November 15 deadline for the official rulebook delivery to teams.
Fan Take: These updates show NASCAR’s commitment to evolving the sport by boosting performance on short tracks and encouraging new manufacturers to join the competition, which could increase excitement and diversity in the field. Fans should watch closely as these changes could lead to faster racing and fresh rivalries, especially if big names like Dodge and Honda make a strong return.
