TALLADEGA, Ala. _ Talladega Superspeedway will always play a pivotal role in NASCAR's Chase. But that role will be significantly altered in 2017.
In each of the three seasons of this version of the playoffs, Talladega has been on NASCAR's schedule as the third and final race in the second round.
That's been changed for next season, when Talladega will switch with Kansas Speedway and move up one week, to the second spot in the second round behind the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The old schedule always made for drama for a Chase elimination race _ because of the unpredictability and mayhem that often show up during races Talladega.
Now, with Talladega tucked between Charlotte and Kansas, that sense of randomness will be gone.
"I think it's a good thing," said Joey Logano, who is tied for eighth in the standings and on the bubble to advance. "I kind of like knowing what you have to do after Talladega. As much as you can control your own destiny (at Talladega), which you can, you can't as much as you could at Kansas."
