If you’re staring at your TV right now wondering what time and where is the nascar race today, I have some news that might be a little bit of a bummer, but also kinda exciting if you like the "behind the scenes" stuff.
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026.
The short answer? There is no official Cup Series, Xfinity, or Truck Series points race happening this afternoon. We’re currently in that weird, quiet pocket of the preseason where the teams are basically living in the shops in North Carolina, thrashing to get cars ready for the West Coast swing and the Florida sun.
But don't go changing the channel just yet. While the big heavy hitters aren't banging fenders on a superspeedway today, the NASCAR world is actually pretty busy right now.
The Chilly Willy and Regional Action
Actually, if you're looking for engines screaming today, you need to look toward Arizona.
The Chilly Willy 150 is happening right now at Tucson Speedway. It’s not a Cup race, but it’s a massive deal in the NASCAR Regional world. We’re talking Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, and Legends cars. For the 2026 edition, the "main event" action for the CARS Tour West Pro Late Models is slated for this afternoon and evening.
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- Location: Tucson Speedway (3/8-mile asphalt oval)
- Time: Gates opened around 4:00 PM ET, with qualifying and features running through the evening.
- How to watch: You won't find this on FOX or NBC. You’ve gotta head over to FloRacing. They have the exclusive streaming rights for basically all the NASCAR Regional properties this year.
Honestly, these short-track races are often more chaotic than the Sunday afternoon stuff anyway. It’s 125 laps of pure aggression for the Pro Late Models today. Plus, the Super Late Model guys are fighting for a $20,000 payday in their finale tomorrow.
When does the real season start?
I get it. You want the Cup cars. You want the roar of the 750-horsepower (well, whatever they're restricted to this week) engines.
The wait isn't that long.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule officially kicks off with an exhibition. Mark your calendar for Sunday, February 1. That’s when we head back to "The Madhouse"—Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC—for the Cook Out Clash.
It’s going to be a 200-lap sprint on a tiny quarter-mile track. If you haven't seen racing at Bowman Gray, it’s basically a localized riot with a pace car.
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Key Dates to Remember
- February 1: The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (8:00 PM ET on FOX).
- February 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona (7:00 PM ET on FS1).
- February 15: The 68th Running of the Daytona 500 (2:30 PM ET on FOX).
That Daytona 500 date is the big one. It's the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing," and it's the official start of the points-paying season.
What most people get wrong about January
People think NASCAR just "sleeps" in January. They don't.
Right now, the big story in the garage is the debut of the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC body. While that’s technically slated for a 2027 competitive rollout, the testing data is being crunched right now.
Also, we just saw the Chili Bowl Nationals wrap up in Tulsa. A ton of NASCAR guys like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell usually spend their "off-time" there playing in the dirt. It’s a reminder that these guys don't really have an off-season; they just change the tires.
Why the 2026 schedule feels different
If you've been looking for what time and where is the nascar race today because you're planning a trip later this year, you should know that 2026 is a "shake-up" year.
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NASCAR finally pulled the trigger on some big changes. We’re seeing a return to Chicagoland Speedway on July 5. That track has been sitting mostly silent since 2019, and the fans basically bullied NASCAR into going back.
But the biggest shocker? The season finale. For years, we’ve finished at Phoenix. Not this time. On November 8, 2026, the championship will be decided at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s a return to form that a lot of old-school fans are actually pretty hyped about.
How to stay ready for February
Since there isn't a Cup race today, here is what you should actually do to prepare for the season:
- Check your subscriptions: If you want to see the Busch Light Clash or the Daytona 500, make sure your FOX and FS1 access is sorted.
- Download the NASCAR App: It’s the easiest way to track live timing and scoring once the Duels start in a few weeks.
- Watch the Rolex 24: If you're a racing junkie, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is happening next weekend (January 24-25). You’ll see plenty of NASCAR drivers moonlighting in sports cars there.
Basically, today is for the local heroes in Tucson. Give the FloRacing stream a look if you need a fix, otherwise, keep your firesuit ready for February 1st.
To stay ahead of the curve, verify your local listings for the Cook Out Clash qualifying on Saturday, January 31, as the heat races at Bowman Gray are often more intense than the main event itself.