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.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
MASTERS UPDATE: TIGER WOODS CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND AUGUSTA NATIONAL "EITHER WAY" FOR 2026
Tiger Woods admits to a "rough road" after a frustrated TGL return, leaving his 2026 Masters status in serious doubt.
Tiger Woods says he’s still trying to get fit for The Masters next month, but he knows the clock’s not exactly on his side.
He made his golf comeback with Jupiter Links GC in Tomorrow’s Golf League, teaming up with Tom Kim and Max Homa. It’s been a while since Woods last played TGL in February 2025, when he tore his Achilles and had disc replacement surgery in his back. So, yeah, it’s been a rough road.
After his return on Tuesday, Woods didn’t sugarcoat things. He gave a pretty honest update about his chances at Augusta this year. You can tell he’s been keeping the door open for the 2026 Masters, but honestly, his appearance for Jupiter Links might’ve shaken up those plans.
Things actually started off looking good. Woods smashed a 279-yard drive on the second hole; it felt like a flash from the old Tiger. But that faded fast. His game unravelled, and by the seventh hole, he missed a three-yard putt, slammed his club into the ground, and his frustration was obvious.
Woods and his teammates just couldn’t keep up, and Jupiter Links ended up losing 9-2 to the Los Angeles Golf Club trio of Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Afterwards, Tiger didn’t hold back: “We got our arse kicked. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Reporters quickly shifted the focus to The Masters. Even after a disappointing night, Woods still wants to play at Augusta National. “I want to play. I love the tournament. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the champions dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising and playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Honestly, it’s obvious why Woods wants to tee it up at Augusta. He’s won The Masters five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019) and made the cut a record 24 times. Looking at how things went in his latest outing, though, it’s hard to picture him adding to those numbers in a few weeks. But if anyone can surprise people, it’s probably Tiger.
