If you’re looking for a standard Cup Series box score today, you won’t find it. Honestly, it’s mid-January. The massive haulers aren't at Daytona yet, and the Next Gen cars are mostly sitting in shops in North Carolina getting wrapped for the Clash at Bowman Gray. But if you're a real fan, you know that the finish order of today's NASCAR race isn't about the Cup schedule—it's about Tulsa.
Today is Friday, January 16, 2026. While the "official" season is weeks away, some of the biggest names in the sport just spent their night sliding sideways in a dirt-filled arena in Oklahoma. We're talking about the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Specifically, Christopher Bell just reminded everyone why he’s basically a cheat code on dirt.
Why the Finish Order of Today’s NASCAR Race Starts in Tulsa
Last night’s preliminary action at the SageNet Center was a statement. If you're checking the finish order of today's NASCAR race vibes, you have to look at how Bell handled the Thursday night A-Main. He didn't just win; he hunted.
Bell started 8th. In a midget car on a tiny dirt oval, that's a mountain to climb. But with about seven laps left, a caution flew, and Bell went to work. He picked off C.J. Leary and then dove inside Ryan Bernal in Turn 1 with only three laps to go.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
It was vintage Bell.
When we talk about NASCAR drivers "off-season," we usually mean they're on a beach. Not these guys. Here is the actual top of the leaderboard from the Thursday night feature that locked drivers into Saturday's big show:
- Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing superstar)
- C.J. Leary (Driving for Alex Bowman’s team)
- Ryan Bernal
- Spencer Bayston
- Kyle Cummins
Leary finishing second is a huge win for Alex Bowman. Even though Bowman isn't behind the wheel of that specific car, his team, Alex Bowman Racing, is now locked into the championship finale on Saturday.
The NASCAR Names You Might Have Missed
It wasn't just Bell out there. The Chili Bowl is a weird, wonderful melting pot where Cup champions rub tires with local heroes.
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
Kyle Larson already punched his ticket earlier in the week. He dominated the Monday preliminary night, proving that his move to owner-driver hasn't slowed him down one bit. He's the defending Chili Bowl champ, and honestly, the rivalry between him and Bell is the only thing people are talking about in the pits right now.
Then you have the younger guys. Ty Gibbs struggled a bit on Tuesday, finishing 14th in his A-Main. Sheldon Creed? He won a B-Main to transfer into the big show on his night but didn't finish the A-Main after some chaos. That’s the Chili Bowl for you. One minute you’re the hero, the next you’re upside down in a catch fence.
The 2026 Cup Series Reality Check
I get it. Some of you came here looking for the Daytona 500 or the Clash. You've got a bit of a wait. According to the official 2026 NASCAR schedule released by the series, we are still a couple of weeks out from the engines roaring for points.
- February 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. This is going to be a total contact sport.
- February 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona.
- February 15: The 68th Annual Daytona 500.
Basically, the finish order of today's NASCAR race is currently written in the red clay of Oklahoma, not the high banks of Florida.
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
What This Means for the 2026 Season
Does winning a dirt race in January matter for the Cup Series? Ask Kyle Larson. He’s gone on record saying the dirt stuff keeps his hands fast.
The 2026 season is going to be a wild one. We have a new playoff format—NASCAR brought back a version of "The Chase" with 16 drivers and a points reset. Plus, the championship race has moved from Phoenix back to Homestead-Miami Speedway. Drivers like Bell and Larson are using these January midget races to stay sharp for a year that's going to be more grueling than usual.
If you’re tracking the finish order of today's NASCAR race and feeling disappointed there wasn't a 40-car field at a 1.5-mile track, don't be. You’re watching the elite drivers of the world prove they can win in anything with four wheels.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before the green flag drops at the Clash:
- Watch the Chili Bowl Finals: Saturday night (tomorrow) is the "Alphabet Soup." Drivers will try to race their way from the O-Mains all the way to the A-Main. It’s the most intense night in motorsports.
- Update your Fantasy Lineups: Keep an eye on the Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing previews. They’ve been dropping team-by-team outlooks all week.
- Circle June 21: That’s the inaugural San Diego Street Race at Naval Base Coronado. It’s the "new" thing on the 2026 schedule everyone is nervous about.
The road to the 2026 championship officially starts in February, but the momentum? That's being built right now by guys like Christopher Bell in the dirt.