If you’re checking the TV guide or scrolling through your feed trying to figure out who won the NASCAR race Sunday, you might be a little ahead of the curve. Or maybe just a bit confused by the calendar.
The short answer? Nobody. At least, not in the Cup Series.
As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, the NASCAR Cup Series engines are still cold. We are currently in the "quiet weeks" before the storm. If you saw racing on your screen this past weekend, you were likely watching the Wild West Shootout or catching highlights from the dirt tracks of Tulsa. Hudson O’Neal actually snagged a big win on Sunday night at the Wild West Shootout, but that’s a world away from the high-banked asphalt of a NASCAR superspeedway.
When does the real NASCAR season actually start?
NASCAR fans are a restless bunch. I get it. We’ve had a long winter. But the 2026 schedule is a bit of a shake-up compared to what we’ve seen in the past.
The first time you'll actually see Cup cars beating fenders for a trophy this year is Sunday, February 1, 2026. That’s the date for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
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Wait, Bowman Gray? Yeah, you read that right.
For the last few years, we got used to the Los Angeles Coliseum hosting the exhibition opener. It was flashy. It had rappers. It was very "LA." But for 2026, NASCAR decided to go back to its roots—its muddy, gritty, legendary roots. Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is "The Madhouse." It’s a flat quarter-mile track around a football field. It’s tight. It’s violent. Honestly, it’s going to be a complete mess in the best way possible.
If you’re looking for the winner of the last race that actually happened, you have to look back to the 2025 season finale. Ryan Blaney won the race at Phoenix, but Kyle Larson walked away with the 2025 Cup Series Championship. Larson has been on a tear lately, and he's currently the guy everyone is trying to chase down.
The Chili Bowl distraction
While the Cup Series is dormant, a lot of the big names are currently out in Oklahoma. If you’re a die-hard, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Chili Bowl Nationals.
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This past week has been all about the dirt. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson have been the big stories there. Bell actually won the Race of Champions this past Monday (January 12) and just secured a preliminary night win on Thursday. He’s looking like the man to beat for the Golden Driller trophy on Saturday night.
A lot of fans get "NASCAR" and "Chili Bowl" mixed up because so many Cup drivers compete there. You’ve got Bell, Larson, Ty Gibbs, and even JJ Yeley out there sliding through the dirt. But if you’re looking for the No. 5 Hendrick Chevy or the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Toyota on a Sunday afternoon in mid-January, you’re going to be waiting a few more weeks.
What to expect from the 2026 NASCAR schedule
NASCAR dropped the 2026 schedule late last year, and it’s arguably the most experimental one we’ve seen in a decade. There are some massive changes that you need to be ready for.
1. The Championship has moved
For years, Phoenix Raceway has been the home of the season finale. Not anymore. In 2026, the Championship Race is moving back to Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is huge. Drivers almost universally prefer Homestead because it allows for multiple racing grooves. You can run against the wall, you can run the bottom—it’s a "driver's track." Phoenix was fine, but it often felt like whoever got the lead on the last restart was just going to cruise. Homestead creates drama.
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2. New Venues and Returns
- Naval Base Coronado: We’re getting a street race in San Diego on June 21. It’s basically NASCAR’s version of a beach party.
- Chicagoland is back: After being left for dead for years, Chicagoland Speedway returns on July 5.
- Rockingham (The Rock): It’s back on the Truck Series schedule. Fans have been begging for this for twenty years.
How to prepare for the Daytona 500
The "real" season—the one where points actually count—doesn't start until the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
If you're trying to figure out who has the best odds, keep an eye on the Fords. They’ve been dominant on the superspeedways recently. But honestly, Daytona is a crapshoot. You could be the best driver in the world and get caught in "The Big One" on lap 15 because someone three rows back got a bad bump.
One thing is for certain: the 2026 season is going to be defined by the rivalry between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin is still chasing that elusive first championship, and time is running out. He’s 45 now. He’s still fast, but the window is closing.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since there isn't a Cup winner to celebrate this Sunday, here is how you can get your racing fix and prepare for the 2026 season:
- Watch the Chili Bowl Finale: The big show in Tulsa happens Saturday night, January 17. It's the best racing you'll see all month. You can stream it on FloRacing.
- Check your DVR: Set your recordings for the Busch Light Clash at Bowman Gray on February 1. It airs on FOX.
- Update your Calendar: The Daytona 500 is February 15. Don't book any brunch plans that day.
- Follow the Crew Chief changes: Several teams shuffled their lineups over the winter. Keep an eye on the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club team; they've brought in fresh blood to try and get Erik Jones back into the playoffs.
Basically, enjoy the calm while it lasts. Once that green flag drops at Bowman Gray, it’s 38 weeks of pure chaos.