It is that weird, quiet stretch of January where the roar of the engines at Daytona still feels like a lifetime away. If you’re looking for the finishing order for NASCAR race today, you’ve gotta look toward the dirt. Specifically, the SageNet Center in Tulsa.
While the Cup Series guys are currently busy debating the massive new 2026 points format changes, the actual racing is happening at the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Technically, there isn't a "NASCAR" points race today, January 14, 2026. But since half the Cup Series field basically lives in a midget car during the off-season, the "NASCAR" presence in Tulsa is heavy. If you're checking the results from the most recent action involving the big names, we just saw a massive Monday and Tuesday preliminary stretch.
The Dirt Standouts: Larson and Bell Rule Tulsa
Honestly, it’s almost becoming a cliché at this point. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. They just don't stop winning.
On Monday night, Christopher Bell kicked off the 2026 Chili Bowl week by absolutely dominating the O’Reilly Auto Parts Race of Champions. He drew a zero for the invert—basically starting exactly where he qualified—and never looked back. He led all 25 laps. It wasn't even close, really.
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Kyle Larson, the reigning 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion, had a bit more of a mountain to climb. He started fourth in the Monday preliminary A-Main. By lap 10, he had the lead. He spent the rest of the night fending off Briggs Danner and Cannon McIntosh. It was classic Larson—finding speed where nobody else dared to look.
Here is the thing about the "finishing order" this time of year: it’s all about locking into that Saturday night A-Main.
Monday Night Preliminary A-Main Results (Top 5)
- Kyle Larson (Locked into Saturday)
- Briggs Danner (Locked into Saturday)
- Cannon McIntosh
- Shane Golobic
- Emerson Axsom
Larson’s win means he’s safely in the big show. For a guy who just won his second Cup title a few months ago, he doesn't seem to have any "championship hangover."
Why Everyone is Talking About the 2026 Points Overhaul
While the racing is in Tulsa, the drama is in Charlotte. NASCAR just dropped the bombshell that they are ditching the "Win and You're In" playoff style and returning to a version of "The Chase."
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Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin have been vocal. Like, really vocal. Hamlin’s had a rough week anyway—tragically losing his father in a house fire recently—but he’s been a leading voice in how this new format will reward consistency over "desperation moves."
Most fans are looking at the finishing order for NASCAR race today and wondering if these dirt results even matter for February. Kinda? It keeps the drivers sharp, but the real news is the 2026 schedule.
We’re looking at a season that starts at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash on February 1st. That’s a massive shift from the LA Coliseum. If you saw the results from last year’s Clash at Bowman Gray, you know it was a total bumper-car session. Chase Elliott took that win, holding off Ryan Blaney in a race that looked more like a local short-track Saturday night than a premier series event.
What to Watch for Next
If you are tracking the finishing order for NASCAR race today because you're a betting person or just a die-hard fan, keep your eyes on the Wednesday and Thursday night qualifiers in Tulsa.
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- Wednesday Qualifiers: Usually features a mix of veteran dirt specialists and a few "Silly Season" Xfinity drivers trying to make a name.
- The Saturday Finale: This is where the actual "finishing order" becomes legendary.
- February 1st: The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray. This is the next time we see the Next Gen cars on track for real.
The sport is in a weird spot. We have a New Zealander, Shane van Gisbergen, who absolutely destroyed the field in the inaugural Mexico City race last year (winning by over 16 seconds!), and now we’re heading into a year where points matter more than ever.
Don't expect the reckless "dive bombs" we saw in 2025. With the new Chase format, a 15th-place finish is actually worth something again.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should start looking at the entry list for the Daytona 500. With the recent leadership changes at Richard Childress Racing—Mike Dillon moving to COO and John Klausmeier taking over as Technical Director—the No. 3 and No. 8 teams (Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch) are going to be under a microscope. Busch, especially, is looking to bounce back after a 2025 season that saw him struggle with consistency.
Check the live timing feeds for the Chili Bowl tonight if you want the lap-by-lap updates. Otherwise, gear up for the Clash at Bowman Gray in a few weeks. That's when the "real" finishing orders start counting toward the history books.
Actionable Next Steps
- Bookmark the Chili Bowl Live Results: If you're following the midget racing, the brackets move fast. Use the official Chili Bowl site for the "alphabet soup" results.
- Review the 2026 Schedule: Mark February 1st (The Clash) and February 15th (Daytona 500) on your calendar.
- Study the New Points System: Since "consistency" is the new keyword, look at which drivers had the best average finish in 2025, not just who had the most wins.