If you’re looking for the roar of 40 Cup Series engines at Daytona right now, you’re about a month early. Honestly, January is a weird time for stock car fans. The "big" cars are still tucked away in shops in Charlotte, getting their wraps and final adjustments before the haulers head south. But if you’re asking where is NASCAR running today, the answer isn't a superspeedway—it's a dirt track in Oklahoma and a legendary bullring in Arizona.
It is Friday, January 16, 2026. While the Cup Series stars are busy talking about the massive news that NASCAR is bringing back "The Chase" format this year, many of them are actually behind the wheel of something much smaller and dirtier today.
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The SageNet Center: NASCAR Stars on Dirt
Today, the racing world's eyes are fixed on Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s the final qualifying night for the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals. This isn't a "NASCAR race" in the corporate sense, but it is heavily sanctioned and populated by NASCAR's elite.
Tonight is the "Hard Rock Casino Tulsa Qualifying Night." You’ve got guys like Jesse Love—the reigning NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion—and Corey Day, who is about to start his first full season for Hendrick Motorsports, sliding midget cars through the dirt. Even Kyle Busch is there, though he's wearing his owner hat today, fielding a car for Gavan Boschele.
The Chili Bowl is basically the Super Bowl of midget racing. It’s a temporary 1/4-mile clay oval built inside an expo center. It’s loud, it’s cramped, and for NASCAR drivers, it’s the ultimate "busman's holiday." They do this for fun, but the intensity is higher than most points races. If you want to watch, you won’t find it on Fox or NBC yet; you’ll need to head over to FloRacing. They have the exclusive streaming rights for all the prelims leading up to the big "driller" trophy presentation on Saturday.
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Chilly Willy 2026: The Desert Heat in January
If dirt isn't your thing, NASCAR Regional is officially "running today" at Tucson Speedway in Arizona. This is the 13th annual Chilly Willy 150.
It’s a massive weekend for West Coast late model racing. Today, Friday the 16th, the track is hosting practice and preliminary features for the Super Late Models and Legend cars. Tucson is a 3/8-mile asphalt oval that eats tires for breakfast. It’s a technical track, and seeing "NASCAR Regional" branding on the broadcast reminds you that the ladder system in this sport is huge.
- Event: 2026 Chilly Willy 150
- Location: Tucson Speedway, Arizona
- Today's Schedule: Practice begins at 11:00 a.m. local time, with features starting around 7:45 p.m. ET.
- Defending Champ: Jace Hansen is back to defend his title against a stout field of 36 Super Late Models.
What’s the Deal with the 2026 Cup Schedule?
I know, you probably want to see the Mustangs, Camaros, and Camrys. We are currently in that "dead zone" where the only Cup Series action is happening in the wind tunnels or on iRacing simulators.
The real season doesn't kick off until February 1, 2026, with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. This is the second year in a row that NASCAR has taken the exhibition race to "The Madhouse" in Winston-Salem. It’s a flat, quarter-mile track around a football field. It’s basically a high-speed demolition derby with a trophy at the end.
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After that, the schedule looks like this:
- February 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona (The qualifying races).
- February 15: The 68th Running of the Daytona 500.
- February 22: Atlanta Motor Speedway.
There’s been a lot of chatter this week about the 2026 schedule changes. The Cup Series is going to San Diego in June to race on a street course at Naval Base Coronado. Also, Chicagoland is back! It’s been off the map since 2019, and fans are pretty hyped to see the 1.5-mile intermediate track return on July 5th.
Why Today Matters for the Regular Season
You might think a late model race in Tucson or a midget race in Tulsa doesn't affect the Daytona 500. You'd be wrong.
These "off-season" races are where the younger guys like Corey Day and established vets like Christopher Bell keep their reflexes sharp. With the new 2026 rules configuration—specifically the move to a 750-horsepower package for short tracks and road courses—seat time is everything. NASCAR is testing that new engine package at North Wilkesboro this week too, trying to fix the "boring" short track racing that plagued the Gen-7 car's early years.
Also, don't ignore the points change. NASCAR just announced they are killing the "win-and-you’re-in" playoff system. Starting this year, you have to be consistent. Every lap in these winter races, even if they don't count for Cup points, builds the mental stamina needed for a season where points are suddenly king again.
How to Watch Racing Today
Since the big networks are currently showing college basketball and re-runs, you have to know where to look.
FloRacing is the home for today's action. They are carrying the Chili Bowl from Tulsa and the Chilly Willy from Tucson. If you’re a die-hard, it’s worth the sub. If you’re waiting for the free stuff, you’ll have to wait for the Clash on FOX in a couple of weeks.
Basically, NASCAR is running today, just not in the way the casual fan might expect. It's grassroots, it's loud, and it's happening in the dirt of Oklahoma and the asphalt of Arizona.
To stay ahead for the rest of the month, make sure your DVR is set for the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona next weekend. While it’s an IMSA event, a ton of NASCAR guys usually jump into those sports cars for the endurance challenge. It’s the next logical step in the countdown to the Daytona 500. Keep an eye on the entry lists dropping Monday to see which Cup drivers are pulling double duty this year.