Chase Elliott has welcomed NASCAR’s newest decision to change things up for its Championship Weekend in 2026. Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s race, Elliott didn’t hold back his enthusiasm and gave his stamp of approval for the long-awaited shift.
After years of growing calls for change, NASCAR has finally addressed the calls and announced that its 2026 Championship Weekend will not be hosted in Phoenix. Thus ending Phoenix Raceway’s six-year run as the title decider.
Chase Elliott Excited for Championship Venue Change for 2026
NASCAR recently officially announced that its Championship Weekend will return to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026. The decision has been met with widespread enthusiasm across the garage, including a strong endorsement from one of the sport’s most well-known drivers, Elliott.
Talking to Frontstretch about the announcement, Elliott said, “Yeah, I think it’s great, and when it moved to Homestead, I thought that was the plan in general. So, I don’t know how long it’s been in Phoenix now, seems like a long time. So, I am glad to see it move around.”
Elliott’s comments reflect the sentiment of other drivers and NASCAR fans who have long believed Homestead’s layout offers a thrilling battleground for a title race.
Elliott also welcomed NASCAR’s plans for a rotating championship venue, something which the governing body has only lightly explored.
“I think its important to have that shift and you’re not just doing one track. Even if it was every year, it would be fine. I think it would be a good thing. I would be for that. Excited for the change and I think it will be good to rotate it,” added Elliott.
When asked if there were any particular tracks he felt would suit a championship finale, Elliott said, “Well, there are certainly tracks that don’t. So, speedways are off the table. For sure, Atlanta would be off the table.
“In my opinion, I think at the end of the day, they kind of have an open box, whatever they want to do. We should be able to make a very educated decision on what would be the most entertaining from the fans’ perspective and also the most rewarding to make sure you are crowning a champion the right way.”
With its progressive banking and layout, Homestead is widely seen as a driver’s track, a place where skill, risk-taking, and strategy play a big role. Elliott’s backing of the decision adds momentum to the idea that variety and challenge were much needed to define the title-deciding race.
