Welcome to another episode of the NASCAR Gambling Podcast on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network! Three days a week, Rod Villagomez and Cody Zeeb bring their love of NASCAR and their love of sports betting to you to help you set your bets for the weekend of NASCAR action. From the Craftsman Truck Series to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, to the Cup Series, Rod and Cody have you covered.
Today, Rod and Cody talk through the new NASCAR 2026 Championship Format and give you their reactions to the change. Will we see another driver dominate this return to the Chase format like Jimmie Johnson did in his prime? How will the new points structure reward winning and how will it change overall strategy? Are we going to get a solid mixture of competitive drivers in the Top 16 now? Which driver got the biggest boost from the switch to this format? Can Joey Logano keep his evened-season title winning streak in tact? We’ll answer these questions and more on this week’s episode.
Be sure to subscribe to the NASCAR Gambling Podcast on the SGPN App, and on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find Rod (@rjvillagomez) and Cody (@Husker_Zeeb) on Twitter. Introduction Musical Credit: “I Run” by Iconoclast
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Shoutouts
02:07 Hosts Introduction and Excitement for NASCAR Playoff Format Announcement
02:50 Discussion on NASCAR Playoff Format Changes
06:36 NASCAR’s New Race for the Seat Competition
14:58 NASCAR Playoff Format Details and Implications
30:15 Playoff Waivers and SVG’s Potential
30:34 Top 16 Points System Explained
32:13 Historical Playoff Performances
33:22 Underdog Promo and NFL Picks
35:36 Impact of New Format on Drivers
38:11 Clarifications on Chase Rules
41:41 Chase Race Schedule Breakdown
42:17 Balancing Track Types in the Chase
44:18 Emphasis on Winning and Points
46:58 Final Thoughts and Excitement for 2026
