Now, this is a change we simply did not see coming. NASCAR announced that Cup Series teams will be allowed to replace front brake pads and rotors following practice and qualifying, starting this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
That updated procedure arrives a month after multiple Cup cars suffered brake failures during the Enjoy Illinois 300 on September 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway, a flat and heavy-braking oval that shares similarities with Phoenix.
Cup Series Senior Managing Director Brad Moran explained the decision on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s "The Morning Drive," noting that letting teams look at their brakes and make pad changes is an uncommon move during an impound practice. Moran confirmed that a procedure has been set up to handle the work.
Toward the end of the 2025 season, NASCAR announced that all tracks shorter than 1.5 miles in length would feature the 750-horsepower setup, which was increased from the baseline 670. Phoenix served as the first traditional oval for the Cup field to run that package back in March, an event won by Ryan Blaney.
Moran also added that there is no criteria or limit for what constitutes a brake change for the teams. If a squad chooses to swap out their brake pads, the responsibility falls entirely on them, as teams are already permitted to handle quite a bit of work in the brake area.
Sunday’s Chase race at Phoenix marks the seventh of 10 events in the battle for the 2026 Cup Series championship. Defending titleholder Kyle Larson currently holds a 49-point lead in the standings over Denny Hamlin, while Ryan Blaney sits fifth in The Chase presented by Mobil 1.
