So, you’re looking for the nascar finishing order today, but if you glance at the official Cup Series schedule, you’ll notice a big, empty gap. That’s because the big heavy stock cars are still tucked away in their shops in North Carolina, waiting for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1.
But honestly? The "real" racing just wrapped up in Tulsa.
If you’re a NASCAR fan, the only finishing order that actually matters today, January 17, 2026, comes from the SageNet Center. The 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals just crowned its champion, and the results are a massive deal for the Cup Series hierarchy. Specifically, Emerson Axsom just shocked the world by taking down the heavyweights, including NASCAR’s own golden boy, Kyle Larson.
The Tulsa Shakedown: Who Actually Won?
The Saturday night A-Main is the most stressful 55 laps in all of dirt racing. Earlier today, Emerson Axsom took the checkered flag, holding off Kevin Thomas Jr. in a finish that had the building shaking.
For the NASCAR crowd, the focus was entirely on Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. Larson, driving the No. 1K, actually locked down the pole position earlier this evening after a clinical performance in the Pole Shuffle. He clocked a $12.693$ second lap, barely edging out Axsom.
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But the main event? It’s a different beast. Larson has been the man to beat all week, but he couldn't quite seal the deal for a fourth Golden Driller today.
The Saturday Night A-Main Finishing Order (Top 5)
- Emerson Axsom (The champion who held off the veterans)
- Kevin Thomas Jr. (Closing fast at the end)
- Blake Hahn (A former winner showing he's still got the juice)
- Logan Seavey (Consistency is his middle name at this point)
- Christopher Bell (The Joe Gibbs Racing star who always finds the front)
Kyle Larson, despite the pole, had a rougher go in the feature than most expected. He’s the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion for a reason, but dirt is the great equalizer. You can have the fastest car in the world and still get caught in someone else's mess in Turn 3.
Why Today’s Results Change the 2026 NASCAR Outlook
You might think midget racing in Oklahoma has nothing to do with the Daytona 500. You'd be wrong.
Basically, the momentum Larson and Bell build here carries directly into the preseason prep. Christopher Bell, who drives the No. 20 Toyota for JGR, used this week to shake off the "offseason rust." He won the Race of Champions on Monday and his preliminary feature on Thursday. Seeing him finish in the top five today proves that his crew chief, Adam Stevens, is going to have a lethal driver on his hands when the Cup season starts.
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Then you’ve got the rule changes NASCAR dropped just yesterday, January 16. While these guys were sliding around in Tulsa, the suits in Daytona Beach were busy tweaking the 2026 rulebook.
Rulebook Shakeups You Might’ve Missed
- Xfinity Fastest Lap: You can't earn bonus points for the fastest lap if your car has spent time in the garage for repairs. No more "zombie cars" coming out to steal points.
- Lug Nut Crackdown: If you’re missing four lug nuts, you’re disqualified. Period.
- Age Limits: The minimum age for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) is now 17 for tracks 1.25 miles or shorter.
The Greg Biffle Tribute at Daytona
While the dirt was flying in Tulsa, there was a much more somber "finishing order" of sorts being discussed at Daytona International Speedway. Today, during the IMSA Roar Before the 24, KohR Motorsports unveiled a "#BeLikeBiff" tribute on their No. 60 Ford Mustang.
It’s a tribute to the late Greg Biffle, who we lost recently. The racing world is still reeling from that, but seeing a Ford Mustang—the brand Biffle was synonymous with—carrying his name at Daytona feels right. It’s a reminder that while we obsess over who crossed the line first today, the sport is really about the people in the seats.
What’s Next for the Cup Series?
If you're strictly looking for the next time the Next Gen cars hit the track, mark your calendar for February 1, 2026.
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The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is going to be a metaphorical fistfight. It’s a quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem, and it’s going to be chaos.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Check the Entry Lists: Keep an eye on the Haas Factory Team and the new Hyak Motorsports entries. They’re the "new" faces on the grid this year.
- Watch the Replays: If you missed the Chili Bowl A-Main today, go find the highlights on FloRacing. The battle between Axsom and Larson in the opening laps was a masterclass in car control.
- Update Your Fantasy Roster: Based on today's performance, Christopher Bell looks like a lock for a strong start to the 2026 season.
The nascar finishing order today might be unofficial until the Cup season starts, but for anyone who knows racing, the real season started tonight in Oklahoma. Emerson Axsom is the name on the trophy, but the ripple effects will be felt all the way to Daytona.
Get your gear ready. The 2026 season is effectively under way.
Next Steps:
Research the confirmed driver lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500 to see which open teams are still fighting for a spot on the grid. Keep an eye on the "Garage 66" entry, as they’ve recently signed Southern Tier Security for a seven-race deal that starts soon.