NEW ERA BEGINS: DISCOVER HOW STEVE O’DONNELL IS TRANSFORMING NASCAR FOR 2026
NASCAR news: Steve O’Donnell brings back The Chase to restore stability and trust between teams and fans for the 2026 season.
NASCAR heads into 2026 with a much-needed sense of direction. After years of lawsuits, leadership shake-ups, and teams butting heads, the focus is finally shifting back to what really matters: the racing.
Steve O’Donnell is at the centre of this new chapter. He’s not promising quick fixes—just patience and steady progress. Talking to The Athletic, he said the sport finally has some breathing room, a “clear runway” compared to the mess of recent years. NASCAR’s already tweaked the competition and put major disputes to bed. With the Daytona 500 coming up, there’s real hope among leaders and teams that these changes will bring back some much-needed stability and trust.
O’Donnell knows this reset won’t happen overnight. He told The Athletic, “It starts with being a little humble about where you are as a sport, being honest with where you are as a sport, what the challenges are, but also what the opportunities are, and then, not just talking about it, but doing it.” He’s made it clear: NASCAR’s all-in on working with partners and delivering for the fans.
It hasn’t been easy getting here. There’s been an antitrust lawsuit with Michael Jordan, tough media rights talks, backlash over the playoff system, and messy charter negotiations. The lawsuit wrapped up in December, and after some drama with inappropriate texts, Steve Phelps stepped down.
Now, looking ahead, O’Donnell feels good about the future. He sees 2026 as a real shot to move forward and reset the sport.
One of the biggest changes? NASCAR is bringing back the Chase playoff system. After a year of debate, they’re going back to a format that rewards drivers for consistent performance, not just fluke wins. Some fans always hated how the last system seemed to reward luck. Even Mark Martin, a long-time critic, is on board with the change this time.
O’Donnell says reconnecting with fans is a top priority. “Our fans feel as if they have ownership in the sport. And I think for a time, they felt a little disconnected from that kind of ownership position,” he said. He wants fans to feel involved again, without losing what makes NASCAR real.
Fixing relationships across the sport is another big focus. Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon told The Athletic, “The relationship side of it has been missing for a while, and getting that back on track is important.” He remembers when group trips and shared experiences brought everyone closer—something that’s been missing lately. Gordon thinks O’Donnell can help rebuild those connections.
Denny Hamlin likes the new direction, too. He’s seen the fresh strategy and thinks it’s the right call to get back to what made NASCAR work.
Brad Keselowski pointed out that leadership has changed since Phelps left. “Steve’s big hurdle is I think he and Phelps were a pretty good combination in a lot of ways,” Keselowski said, but he added that now it’s O’Donnell’s show—he’s got “the keys to the castle.”
Defending champ Kyle Larson has confidence in O’Donnell. “I think he's an outstanding leader. "I feel like he runs a good balance of being friends with everybody but also can stand his ground," he said.
NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy agrees, calling O’Donnell the opposite of a “yes man”.
O’Donnell’s main goal is simple: bring everyone together and keep building the sport. “Not taking advantage of the opportunity we have to grow this sport would really bum me out,” he said. Right now, unity and progress are at the top of his list.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
