The NASCAR Brasil Series will bring the spectacle of oval racing to the state of Santa Catarina. The category has announced that the eighth round of the 2026 season, which marks the opening of the Playoffs, will be contested on the oval layout of the Autódromo Internacional de Chapecó, on October 31 and November 1.
The decision takes into account the public’s receptivity and the success of the two oval events already held this season in Cuiabá and Curvelo. The aim is to keep, in the championship’s closing stretch, one of the features that most closely aligns NASCAR Brasil with the identity of the North American competition: high-speed racing, battles wheel-to-wheel, and intense interaction among the drivers.
With Chapecó confirmed at a track length of 1,452 meters (clockwise), the season will continue to include four rounds in outer-ring/oval configurations, namely Cuiabá, Curvelo, Chapecó, and the big final in Brasília. The change comes after Goiânia was removed from this configuration originally planned for the championship.
“A ideia é manter aquilo que funcionou e que o público abraçou. Tivemos experiências muito positivas nos ovais de Cuiabá e Curvelo, com corridas extremamente competitivas e grande repercussão. Com Chapecó no oval, chegamos a quatro etapas nesse conceito ao longo da temporada. Depois de Chapecó, teremos ainda a grande final em Brasília, fechando uma temporada que tem sido marcada pela diversidade de traçados e pelo alto nível de competição,” states Thiago Marques, CEO of the NASCAR Brasil Series.
The Chapecó stage will carry special significance as the first in the decisive playoff phase. Three races will be held over the weekend, offering fundamental points for the drivers who have qualified for the Playoffs. The 12 top scorers from the regular season will advance to the title battle with a 20-point bonus.
“Para Gustavo Carvalho, diretor de Marketing da NASCAR Brasil, a escolha também representa uma resposta direta à conexão criada com os fãs durante as etapas em ovais.” He adds, “The public asked for it, followed along, participated, and showed that they really enjoy this race format. So, nothing more natural than listening to that response and bringing the oval to Chapecó as well. This is a very important stage—the opening of the Playoffs—in a new venue and in front of an audience that is experiencing NASCAR Brasil for the first time. We want to turn this moment into a great experience.”
The arrival of NASCAR Brasil in Chapecó had already generated great anticipation during the presentation of the new track in August, when local drivers from the series took part in a test event at the facility. After Chapecó, NASCAR Brasil moves on to Brasília on November 29 for the season finale, also featuring three races.
The NASCAR Brasil Series features Chevrolet and Ford as manufacturers, with sponsorship from Pirelli, Shopee, and Karter, in addition to official suppliers Frum, Militec1, Servitec, Nano4you, Tecpads, Sparco, Viemar, Zanoello, and Rodas Raw.
