The energy inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa is basically impossible to describe if you haven’t stood on that dirt floor. It’s loud. It’s dusty. Honestly, it’s the purest form of racing left. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, marks the climax of the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals. While the "official" NASCAR Cup Series season doesn't start for another few weeks at Bowman Gray Stadium, the finish order of NASCAR race today is all about how the heavy hitters from the Cup world fared on the dirt.
You’ve got guys like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell trading their million-dollar paved-track machines for midget cars. It’s the ultimate equalizer. No fancy aerodynamics here. Just a steering wheel, a massive amount of horsepower, and a lot of prayer.
The Big Names: Who Conquered the Soup Bowl?
Christopher Bell is a monster in Tulsa. There’s no other way to put it. After winning his preliminary night on Thursday, he entered today’s Championship Feature with a massive target on his back. If you’re looking for the finish order of NASCAR race today, you have to start with the "Alphabet Soup" because that’s where the drama lives.
Kyle Larson, the 2025 Cup Series champion, already punched his ticket to the A-Main by winning Monday’s prelim. He spent most of the week hanging out, but when he gets in that car, it’s like he never left the dirt. He and Bell have this rivalry that feels sort of like a modern-day Petty vs. Pearson, but with more mud in the face.
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How the Cup Stars Finished
It wasn't just the Larson and Bell show, though they usually steal the headlines. Here is how the notable NASCAR names shook out in the final standings of the 2026 Chili Bowl:
- Kyle Larson – He was surgical. Larson took the lead early and basically managed the gap through a series of late-race cautions.
- Christopher Bell – Bell gave him a run, especially in the closing five laps, but had to settle for a hard-fought second place.
- Shane Golobic – Not a full-time NASCAR guy, but he’s the "spoiler" who always keeps the Cup drivers honest.
- Tanner Thorson – A former winner who proved why he’s a perennial threat.
- Corey Day – The young gun everyone is eyeing for a future Cup seat.
Further down the order, we saw some mixed results. Jesse Love, who has been tearing it up in the Xfinity Series, showed a lot of speed but got caught up in a mid-race tangle that ruined his shot at a top-five. Ty Gibbs also had a rough go of it. He finished 14th in his preliminary A-Main earlier in the week and had to fight through the B-Mains today.
The Missing Pieces: Why Some Stars Wrench Instead of Drive
One of the weirdest parts about the finish order of NASCAR race today is who wasn't on the track. Alex Bowman and Chase Briscoe were there, but they weren't driving. Bowman is actually pretty candid about it—he’s a big guy. At 6'1", he’s talked about how his knees literally hit the steering box in these tiny midget cars.
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He and Briscoe spent the day turning wrenches instead of steering wheels. Bowman has had some brutal injuries in recent years, and honestly, can you blame him for not wanting to squeeze into a car where he’s "super uncomfortable" just to risk another shunt? It adds a layer of reality to the sport. These guys are human. They have limits.
Why This Finish Order Matters for 2026
You might think dirt racing in Oklahoma doesn't relate to the Daytona 500. You'd be wrong. The momentum from a Chili Bowl win is real. Larson is coming off a championship year. Winning today just solidifies that he is the man to beat when the Cup season officially kicks off in February.
The racing today was tight. The track held up surprisingly well, despite the "curty" nature of the transitions between the heats. We saw a record number of entries this year, which meant the path to the A-Main was more treacherous than ever.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the finish order of NASCAR race today to get a jump on your fantasy picks or just to stay ahead of the curve, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Dirt Specialists: Drivers like Larson and Bell use this to sharpen their "car control." That translates directly to the new Cup cars, which are more sensitive to slide angles than the old Gen-6 models.
- Keep an Eye on the Schedule: The next time we see these guys in a "true" NASCAR event is February 1st at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash. It's a short track, very similar in intensity to what we saw today.
- Rookie Watch: Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love are the two names you need to memorize. Their performance in high-pressure environments like Tulsa shows they aren't afraid of the veterans.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a wild one. With the return of "The Chase" format and a schedule that leans into variety, today's results in Tulsa are just the beginning of the story.
Check the official NASCAR results page or FloRacing for the full lap-by-lap breakdown if you need the deep-track stats for the lower mains. Otherwise, get ready for February. The real chaos is just around the corner.