Honestly, if you're looking for the nascar leaderboard for today's race expecting to see stock cars banging fenders on a high-banked asphalt oval, you might be a little confused.
It is January 17, 2026.
The roar of the Cup Series engines at Daytona is still a few weeks away. Right now, the entire racing world—and basically every big-name NASCAR driver you care about—is hunkered down in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They’re inside the SageNet Center for the grand finale of the 40th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals.
It’s dirt. It’s midget cars. And today, Saturday, is the day the "Alphabet Soup" finishes.
What the Leaderboard Looks Like Right Now
The "today's race" everyone is tracking isn't a single event; it's a relentless ladder of features. We started early this morning with the O-Mains and P-Mains. If you aren't familiar with the format, it’s a brutal survival gauntlet. Drivers who didn't lock in during their weekday preliminary nights have to race their way up through the letters.
Think about that. You start in the K-Main. You have to finish in the top handful just to get to the J-Main. Then the I. Then the H.
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Most don't make it.
As of this afternoon, the heavy hitters are sitting pretty, waiting for the A-Main tonight. Kyle Larson is the name at the top of every "watch list" leaderboard. He already secured his spot by winning Monday’s preliminary feature. He’s looking for his fourth Golden Driller trophy.
Christopher Bell is right there with him. Bell grabbed the win in Thursday’s prelim. These two have basically turned the Chili Bowl into their personal playground over the last decade.
The Current "Big Names" in the Hunt
If you're checking the nascar leaderboard for today's race to see how your favorite Cup drivers are faring on the dirt, here is the status of the NASCAR contingent as of Saturday afternoon:
- Kyle Larson (No. 98): Locked into the A-Main. He’s been the class of the field, showing why he’s the defending NASCAR Cup champion.
- Christopher Bell (No. 67): Locked into the A-Main. Bell’s ability to find grip where nobody else can is legitimately spooky.
- Jesse Love: The kid is a wheelman. Driving for a team owned by Alex Bowman’s crew chief, Blake Harris, Love has been fighting through the upper-tier mains today to try and snag a transfer spot.
- Corey Day: Technically a "NASCAR" name now that he’s signed for a full O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season with Hendrick. He’s been one of the fastest cars all week.
- Josh Bilicki: A journeyman in the Cup world but a dirt lover at heart. He’s been battling through the Saturday morning "alphabet" features.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Cup Series Schedule
I get it. Some of you just want to know when the Next Gen cars are back on the pavement.
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The "real" nascar leaderboard for today's race—meaning the Cup Series—doesn't officially start until February 1st. That’s when they head to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash. It’s a huge move for 2026, taking the pre-season exhibition to one of the most historic (and cramped) short tracks in the country.
After that, the points-paying season kicks off with the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026.
2026 Standings and Changes
Since it’s the start of the year, everyone is technically tied at zero points. But there’s a lot of weirdness on the 2026 roster that will affect the leaderboard once we hit Daytona:
- Daniel Suárez has moved over to Spire Motorsports.
- Connor Zilisch is the rookie everyone is terrified of. He’s in the No. 88 for Trackhouse.
- Kyle Busch is still hunting that elusive third title, now with Jim Pohlman as his crew chief at RCR.
- Jimmie Johnson is confirmed for the Daytona 500 in the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota. He’s using an "Open Exemption Provisional" to make sure he's in the field.
Why You Should Care About Today's Dirt Results
You might think midget racing in Oklahoma doesn't matter for the NASCAR Cup Series. You'd be wrong.
The momentum Larson and Bell build here carries over. Last year, Larson used his Chili Bowl win as a springboard for a dominant spring. It’s about "seat time." These guys are racing against 300+ entries. To even make the A-Main leaderboard today, you have to be nearly perfect.
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If you're tracking the results tonight, watch the "transfer spots." In the B-Mains, only the top seven move on to the big show. It’s the most high-pressure 15 minutes in motorsports.
Actionable Steps for Fans Today
If you want to keep up with the nascar leaderboard for today's race in real-time:
- Watch the stream: FloRacing has the exclusive rights to the Chili Bowl. It’s a subscription, but honestly, Saturday night is worth the price of admission.
- Check the "Alphabet" progress: Follow the live timing on the Chili Bowl's official site or the MyRacePass app. You can see exactly which NASCAR stars are moving up the ladder.
- Set your DVR for February: The Bowman Gray Clash is only two weeks away. Make sure your local listings are updated for the FOX broadcast on Feb 1.
The leaderboard today is messy, covered in dirt, and filled with "names you don't know" beating "names you do." That's the beauty of it. Whether it's Larson going for another Driller or a dark horse like Logan Seavey trying to spoil the NASCAR party, today is the most important day in January for racing.
Stay tuned to the live timing feeds as the B-Mains wrap up around 7:00 PM local time. That’s when the final A-Main leaderboard will be set, and we'll see if a NASCAR regular takes home the hardware.