Checking to see if there is a cup race today is basically a Sunday morning ritual for millions of people across the country. It’s that specific itch. You wake up, grab a coffee, and want to know if you're about to see 40 cars screaming into a turn at 190 mph or if you're stuck watching reruns of home improvement shows.
Honestly, the schedule is more packed than it used to be. But today, Friday, January 16, 2026, the short answer is no—there isn't a points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race happening right this second. We are currently in that weird, quiet pocket of the off-season where the haulers are being polished and the engineers are losing sleep over wind tunnel data in Charlotte.
The Countdown to the Clash and Daytona
You've gotta wait just a bit longer. The engines don't officially roar for the 2026 season until the Busch Light Clash, which is traditionally the precursor to the real madness. Following that, the crown jewel, the Daytona 500, is slated for mid-February. If you’re looking for a race today, you're likely feeling that pre-season withdrawal that hits every race fan right about now.
It’s a long winter.
The 2026 schedule is actually one of the most ambitious we’ve seen in decades. NASCAR has been aggressive about moving away from the "cookie-cutter" 1.5-mile tracks that dominated the early 2000s. We're seeing more road courses, more street circuits, and even more international dates. Ben Kennedy and the scheduling team at NASCAR have basically flipped the script on what a traditional season looks like.
Why the 2026 Schedule Looks Different
NASCAR isn't just a Southern sport anymore. It hasn't been for a long time, but the 2026 calendar proves it. We’re seeing a massive push into markets that were previously ignored. For instance, the rumors and eventual confirmation of more international presence have changed the "Is there a cup race today?" question into "What country is the race in today?"
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Take the Mexico City race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. That’s a massive shift. It’s the first time in the modern era that the Cup Series is venturing outside the U.S. for a points race. This isn't an exhibition. This is for the championship. If you’re a fan who grew up watching races at Rockingham or North Wilkesboro, seeing the Next Gen car navigating the "peraltada" in Mexico is a bit of a trip.
Then you have the street races. The Chicago Street Race proved that you can turn a metropolitan downtown into a racetrack without the world ending. In 2026, the balance between high-banked ovals and technical road courses is almost 50/50 in some stretches of the summer.
Understanding the TV Chaos: Where to Watch
Finding the race is harder than it used to be. It’s not just "turn on channel 4." We are now deep into the new media rights deal.
The 2026 season is split between several heavy hitters. You’ve got FOX Sports handling the first half, including the Daytona 500. Then you have Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (under the WBD umbrella) taking over the mid-summer stretch. Finally, NBC Sports brings it home for the playoffs and the championship at Phoenix.
- FOX/FS1: The early season "West Coast Swing" and the Big One at Daytona.
- Amazon Prime: A Five-race mid-summer blast. You’ll need a subscription for this, which honestly annoyed a lot of the older fan base, but it's where the money is.
- TNT/Max: These races usually feature the "B-Summer" stretch, including some of the newer road course dates.
- NBC/USA Network: The high-stakes playoff rounds where the "Win and You're In" drama peaks.
If you are asking if there is a cup race today during the summer, you better check your streaming apps. The days of basic cable being your only requirement are gone. It's a fragmented landscape. It’s annoying. But it’s also bringing in a younger demographic that doesn't even own a TV.
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The Next Gen Car: Why the Racing is Different
If you haven't tuned in for a couple of years, the car on the track today—or whenever the next race is—isn't what you remember. The Next Gen (Gen-7) car changed everything. It has independent rear suspension. It has a sequential transaxle. It has single-lug nut wheels.
Traditionalists hated the single lug nut. They missed the "tink-tink-tink-tink-tink" of the five-lug pit stops. But the reality is that these cars are much more robust. They can bang doors on a short track and keep going. This has led to some of the most aggressive driving we’ve seen in years. Just look at the finish at Kansas or the chaos at Bristol.
The parity is also insane. In the old days, a team like Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing would find a "gray area" in the rulebook and dominate for six months. Now, because so many parts are supplied by single-source vendors, the gap between the biggest teams and the mid-tier teams like 23XI Racing or Trackhouse Racing has shrunk significantly.
Major Milestones to Watch in 2026
When the season does kick off, there are a few storylines that are going to dominate the headlines.
First, keep an eye on the retirement tours. Every year, we see legends of the sport start to eye the exit. Whether it’s Martin Truex Jr. finally hanging it up or rumors surrounding the veterans at Stewart-Haas (or what's left of the restructured tiers there), the guard is changing.
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Second, the rise of the "International Driver." With Trackhouse's Project 91 and other teams looking at F1 or Supercars stars, the field is getting more diverse. We’re seeing guys like Shane van Gisbergen proving that "ringers" can actually win on these tracks. It’s not just a novelty anymore.
Third, the playoff format. People love it or hate it. The "Round of 16," "Round of 12," and so on, creates a "Game 7" atmosphere every few weeks. By the time we get to the fall, the question isn't just "is there a race?" but "who is still alive in the points?"
What to Do While You Wait for the Next Green Flag
Since there isn't a cup race today, you’ve got some time to kill. If you’re itching for motorsports content, here is what you should actually be doing to stay ahead of the curve:
- Download the NASCAR App: Seriously, the live telemetry is better than the TV broadcast sometimes. You can track individual lap times and see who is losing speed over a long run.
- Check the Entry Lists: About four days before a race, the entry lists come out. This is where you see if there are any "open" teams or surprise drivers entering the field.
- Monitor the Weather: If there was a race today, the first thing any veteran fan does is check the radar. NASCAR and rain have a complicated, miserable relationship. While the wet-weather tires have helped on short tracks and road courses, a heavy downpour still shuts down an oval in seconds.
- Listen to Teardown Podcasts: Guys like Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi provide the "E-E-A-T" (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that the sport needs. They dive into the officiating calls that usually make fans scream at their TVs.
Actionable Next Steps for the Race Fan
Don't just sit there waiting for the engines to start. If you want to be ready for the 2026 season opener, here is your checklist:
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official NASCAR website and download the 2026 schedule directly into your phone. It updates automatically for time changes or rain delays.
- Check your subscriptions: Make sure your Amazon Prime and Max accounts are active before the summer stretch hits. There’s nothing worse than missing the first 50 laps because you’re trying to reset a password.
- Look into tickets now: Tracks like North Wilkesboro and the Chicago Street Race sell out months in advance. If you’re planning a trip, the window for the best seats is usually 6 months out.
- Follow the "silly season" updates: Use reputable sources like Jayski or The Athletic to track driver movements. A lot of the confusion about "who is in what car" happens during this off-season period.
The wait for the next green flag is almost over. While there isn't a cup race today, the preparation for the 2026 season is already in high gear. Whether you're a die-hard fan who never misses a lap or a casual viewer wondering why they’re racing in a stadium, the 2026 season is shaping up to be a chaotic, high-speed experiment that resets the bar for American motorsports.