Honestly, if you're looking for a standard Cup Series box score right now, you’re about a month too early. The big boys don't head to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash until February 1st. But if you're a real gearhead, you know that "NASCAR race today" actually means the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa.
This isn't your typical Sunday afternoon cruise. It’s dirty. It’s loud. It’s inside a giant building in Oklahoma where the air smells like methanol and clay. Even though it’s technically a Midget car event, the finishing order of the NASCAR race today is dominated by names you see on TV every weekend.
Who Came Out on Top?
The York Plumbing Qualifying Night just wrapped up at the SageNet Center, and the dirt specialists are making the asphalt regulars look like they're working for it. While Monday and Tuesday saw the heavy hitters like Kyle Larson and Ty Gibbs punch their tickets, tonight was about survival.
Basically, the 2026 Chili Bowl is a multi-day gauntlet. You don't just show up and win. You have to survive your qualifying night to even get a sniff of the Saturday A-Main.
Here is the rundown of how the NASCAR regulars and big names have actually fared so far this week:
💡 You might also like: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
- Christopher Bell absolutely schooled the field in the Race of Champions. He led flag-to-flag. It was one of those "is he even human?" performances that reminds you why Joe Gibbs pays him the big bucks.
- Kyle Larson grabbed the Monday night preliminary feature win. He had a bit of a scare with a lapped car—Gaige Weldon—but he recovered. Larson is already locked into the Saturday finale.
- Ty Gibbs had a rougher go of it on Tuesday. He finished 14th in the A-Main after fading late.
- J.J. Yeley, the veteran who has been doing this longer than some of these kids have been alive, managed a 10th-place finish in his Tuesday feature.
- Sheldon Creed struggled. He’s a rookie at this event, and it showed. He won a B-Main to get in but finished 24th in the feature.
The Standings Everyone is Watching
If you’re checking the finishing order of the NASCAR race today, you’re likely trying to see who is actually "locked in." In Tulsa, the top two finishers from each preliminary night get an automatic pass to the Saturday championship race.
Monday Qualifiers:
- Kyle Larson
- Briggs Danner
Tuesday Qualifiers:
- Cannon McIntosh
- Emerson Axsom (Note: Axsom isn't a Cup regular, but he’s the guy the NASCAR scouts are currently drooling over).
Wednesday (Tonight) results are still trickling in, but the buzz is all about whether the lower-tier NASCAR drivers can out-hustle the dirt pros. Honestly, it’s a tall order. The track prep tonight has been "bottom-dominant," making passing a nightmare unless you're willing to move someone out of the way.
📖 Related: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
Why This Matters for the 2026 Cup Season
You might think dirt midgets have nothing to do with the Daytona 500. You'd be wrong.
Kyle Larson has used his Chili Bowl momentum to steamroll the early season for years. It keeps the reflexes sharp. While other drivers are sitting on a beach or playing iRacing, Larson and Bell are trading paint in a claustrophobic bullring.
We’ve also seen some major news drop right in the middle of the dirt dust. Richard Childress Racing just announced a massive shakeup in their competition leadership for the 2026 Cup program. It seems they’re trying to find whatever magic Larson has found over at Hendrick. Plus, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. just confirmed he’s doing a two-race stint in the Truck Series with Niece Motorsports this year. The guy never stops racing.
What’s Next for Race Fans?
The "real" NASCAR season is lurking just around the corner. If you're tired of the dirt and want the asphalt, mark your calendar for these upcoming 2026 milestones:
👉 See also: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray (Feb 1): This is the official season opener. It’s a non-points exhibition, but at "The Madhouse," people drive like there’s a million dollars on the line. Expect tempers to flare.
The Daytona 500 (Feb 15): The Great American Race. This is the one that defines careers. Jimmie Johnson is already confirmed to be in the field in his No. 84 Toyota.
The New Playoff Format: NASCAR just teased a "highly-anticipated" 2026 championship format. Word on the street is they might be moving away from the single-race finale at Phoenix. In fact, the 2026 finale is officially moving back to Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8.
For now, keep your eyes on the Tulsa results. If you want to see the full finishing order of the NASCAR race today as it updates live, you've got to follow the FloRacing feeds. The dirt changes every ten minutes, and one bad bounce against the cushion can turn a winner into a DNF real fast.
Stay tuned for the Hasty Bake Qualifying Night tomorrow. We’ll see if the remaining NASCAR entries can claw their way into the big show on Saturday.
Your Next Steps:
Check the 2026 Cup Series schedule to see when tickets go on sale for the summer stretch, especially for the new San Diego street course race in June. If you're following a specific driver in Tulsa, watch the "Alphabet Soup" races on Saturday morning to see how far they can climb from the lower features.