So, you’re hitting up Google who won the NASCAR race today, but here is the thing: the big engines at Daytona haven't actually started humming for the points season yet. If you were looking for a Cup Series trophy presentation on this Sunday, January 18, 2026, you're technically a few weeks early for the "official" start. But don't click away just yet. While the Cup cars are still in the shops, the racing world was glued to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals just wrapped up with a finish that'll be talked about for a decade.
Emerson Axsom is the name you need to know. At just 21 years old, this kid from Franklin, Indiana, just pulled off what many consider the hardest feat in all of American motorsports. He didn't just win; he survived a literal gauntlet of 400 drivers to hoist the Golden Driller trophy late Saturday night (running into the early hours of Sunday for some of us).
Why Everyone is Searching for Today's Winner
The reason people are flocking to find out about the NASCAR race today is that the Chili Bowl is basically the "Super Bowl of Midget Racing," and it's heavily crawling with NASCAR's biggest superstars. We’re talking about Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell—guys who usually dominate Sundays—getting back to their roots on the dirt.
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Honestly, the drama was high. Axsom wasn't even supposed to be the "main character" here. He was driving for Sammy Swindell, a legend who has been a mentor and a mastermind in the dirt world. Axsom got the ride through an Instagram DM, which is just wild when you think about the prestige of this event.
What Happened to the NASCAR Stars?
If you're a die-hard Cup Series fan, you probably want to know how the "big names" fared. It was a rough night for the heavy hitters.
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- Kyle Larson: The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champ started on the pole. He looked like the man to beat until Lap 16. He clipped a slower car on the backstretch and went for a wild flip. Just like that, the favorite was out.
- Christopher Bell: He’s a three-time Chili Bowl winner. Bell fought hard, but the dirt was unforgiving this year. He finished 8th in the A-Main. Respectable, sure, but not the "W" he was hunting for.
- Logan Seavey: He pushed Axsom to the absolute limit. On the final restart, it was a bumper-to-bumper war.
Emerson Axsom: The Best Day of My Life
Axsom's victory wasn't a fluke. He took the lead from Larson on Lap 4 and held off charge after charge. Even when Justin Grant briefly slid past him with seven laps to go, a timely caution flag reset the field and gave Axsom his spot back. Talk about a lucky break, but you've gotta be in position to take advantage of those.
In the final two laps, it was pure chaos. Kevin Thomas Jr. came out of nowhere, charging from 18th to 2nd, but Axsom held the bottom line like a veteran. When he crossed that finish line, he called it "for sure, the best day of my life." You could hear the emotion in his voice; it’s that raw, unscripted stuff that makes racing great.
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When Does the Actual NASCAR Cup Season Start?
If you're specifically looking for the heavy stock cars on asphalt, you've got a short wait. The 2026 schedule is a bit different, but here’s the gist of what’s coming up next:
- The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium: This is the big preseason exhibition. It’s happening on February 1, 2026. NASCAR moved it from the LA Coliseum to the legendary "Madhouse" in Winston-Salem. It’s going to be a total demolition derby on a flat quarter-mile track.
- The Daytona 500: The real deal. The "Great American Race" is set for February 15, 2026. That is when the points officially start counting.
Why This Matters for 2026
Seeing a 21-year-old like Axsom take down the giants of the sport tells us a lot about the talent pipeline. NASCAR has been leaning heavily into dirt racing experience lately. Look at guys like Corey Day, who just signed a full-time deal with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2026 O'Reilly Series season. The bridge between the Saturday night dirt tracks and the Sunday afternoon superspeedways has never been shorter.
If you’ve been searching for google who won the NASCAR race today, you actually stumbled onto something better than a standard Cup race. You saw the birth of a new star in Emerson Axsom and a reminder that even the best, like Kyle Larson, can end up upside down when they're pushing the limit.
Your Next Steps:
- Watch the Highlights: If you missed the Chili Bowl A-Main, find the replay of the Lap 16 Larson flip and the final two-lap sprint.
- Mark the Calendar: Set an alert for February 1st for the Bowman Gray Clash. It’s the first time the Cup cars will be back on track in a competitive (though non-points) environment.
- Follow the Dirt-to-Asphalt Pipeline: Keep an eye on Axsom this year. After a win like this, don't be surprised if you see him in a NASCAR Truck or Xfinity seat sooner rather than later.