The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is finally here — or just about to be! In the next few days, teams will roll into Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash, followed by the Daytona 500, the Great American Race that officially kicks everything off in style. After a long off-season of testing, training, and preparation, the excitement across the country is electric.
There’s something special about the beginning of a new season. Every driver and team starts with the same dream: winning races, making the playoffs, and contending for the championship. The rivalries are fresh, the cars look fast, and anything feels possible. This year’s schedule looks strong, with plenty of great tracks and big moments ahead.
What stands out to me more than ever is how diverse the NASCAR community has become. On the track, you see drivers from all kinds of backgrounds — veterans and young talent, Americans and international stars like Shane van Gisbergen, drivers with roots in different cultures and communities. Programs like NASCAR’s Driver Development initiative (formerly Drive for Diversity) continue to open doors for more people, including women and minority drivers, to compete at high levels. In the garages and pit crews, you’ll find men and women from every walk of life working together to make these teams successful.
And the fans? That’s where the real beauty of myriad cultures shows up. People from all races, backgrounds, ages, and political views pack the stands and fan zones. You’ll see families who’ve been coming for generations sitting next to first-time fans discovering the sport. Some are cheering for my favorite driver, William Byron in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Others are loud and proud for Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, or any of the other talented competitors. I’ve followed Byron closely because of his talent, consistency, and the way he carries himself, and I’m really looking forward to cheering him on as he pushes for wins and that championship.
One of the things I love most about NASCAR is how it brings such a diverse group of people together. Fans passionately root for different drivers, debate strategy, and cheer their hearts out — sometimes giving each other a hard time in good fun. But at the end of the day, we all share the same love for the sport. It’s a perfect example of civil disagreement: competing hard on the track while still respecting one another. That same spirit is something I learned while traveling across America as a kid reporter, talking to people who saw the world very differently. NASCAR shows that when you focus on what unites us — speed, skill, strategy, and the thrill of the race — differences become part of the excitement rather than a barrier.
Whether you’re heading to the track, hosting watch parties with friends from all backgrounds, or following along from home, I hope you enjoy every lap of the 2026 season. To all the drivers, crews, teams, and fans who make this community so rich and diverse: stay safe, give it your all, and let’s make this another unforgettable year of NASCAR.
I can’t wait for the green flag to drop!
Only in America.