“Good fit?”: NASCAR Insider pitches Max Verstappen’s home race as future Cup fixture amid recent F1 development

While Formula 1 is set to leave the iconic Circuit Zandvoort after the 2026 season, rumors of NASCAR competing at the venue are circulating in the community. Senior journalist Jeff Gluck expressed his opinion on social media about a Cup Series race taking place on European soil.

Located near the coastline of the North Sea, Circuit Zandvoort is a 2.646-mile-long race track popular for hosting F1, DTM, and ADAC GT Masters. Operational since 1948, the iconic racetrack is known for its high-speed banked turns and a long start/finish straight. Zandvoort had been a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar from 1958 to 1985 (except 1972) and made a comeback to the premier single-seater open-wheel racing format in 2021.

However, F1's governing body has disclosed the decision to drop Max Verstappen's home race from the calendar after 2026. One contributing factor was the Dutch government's plan to increase VAT on tickets.

The news was also shared on X by Luke Smith, senior F1 writer for The Athletic. Here's a look at his post:

"F1 confirms the Dutch GP will drop off the calendar after 2026 following talks with the promoter. 2026 race will be a sprint event."

NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck responded to the above-mentioned post, expressing his opinion on a potential Cup Series race at Zandvoort. Take a look at his post:

"Seems Zandvoort could use a big race in 2027. NASCAR keeps expressing some interest in Europe. Good fit? 🤷‍♂️"

While there is no confirmation about NASCAR entering Europe, rumors about an event taking place at Zandvoort have been spreading in the community. During an interview with the Ziggo Sport Race Café in April, NASCAR commentator Rick Winkelman spoke about the discussion between the US-based sanctioning body and the management of Circuit Zandvoort.

"By now, there have been several video calls and I was often there. So there are already talks going on between the management of Zandvoort and NASCAR. And the next step is to go to America with the management to see how serious all those plans are," Winkelman said via GP Fans.

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"Then we would make ourselves completely dependent on what Max is going to do" - Dutch Grand Prix director Robert van Overdijk on the future of F1 racing at Circuit Zandvoort

Formula 1 is dropping the Circuit Zandvoort from 2027 onwards. Robert van Overdijk, the director of the Dutch Grand Prix expressed his thoughts on the possibility of F1 racing at the iconic racetrack beyond 2026 in an interview with Dutch publication NOS.

"A sold-out house for three days in a row is necessary for us to run profitably. That line is thin. A one-off dip is not so bad, but we cannot afford to structurally attract fewer visitors. Max (Verstappen) now has four world titles. He has won Zandvoort three times. Of course, you can wait for a moment when the enthusiasm wanes, but that doesn't suit us," van Overdijk explained.

"We were a bit unlucky with the weather, but the demand for tickets for 2025 and 2026 is huge. It's going to be bursting at the seams. Then we would make ourselves completely dependent on what Max is going to do. It can also turn out differently. Maybe Verstappen will drive for another team in 2026. Then it will be a special final edition," he added.

Apart from Formula 1, NASCAR has also shown interest in conducting events at Circuit Zandvoort in the future.