Who Won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Yesterday: The Reality of the 2026 Schedule

If you woke up today, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, wondering who won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race yesterday, the answer is actually a bit of a trick. Honestly, nobody won a Cup race yesterday because there wasn't one. I know, it's kinda confusing with all the racing news flying around right now, but we are currently in the thick of the "Silly Season" and pre-season prep. The Cup Series engines haven't officially roared for points yet.

But wait—if you saw headlines about racing results from January 14, you’re probably looking at the Chili Bowl Nationals. While it’s not the Cup Series, it’s basically where every NASCAR star goes to play in the dirt during the winter. Last night in Tulsa, Emerson Axsom took the checkered flag in the Wednesday night preliminary feature.

The Confusion Around Who Won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Yesterday

Look, I get why people are searching for this. The Cup Series has been through a million name changes—from Winston to Nextel to Sprint and now just the NASCAR Cup Series. Even though the "Sprint" era ended years ago, many of us still have that name burned into our brains.

Yesterday, January 14, was a Wednesday. NASCAR doesn't usually run Cup races on Wednesdays unless a monsoon hits a Sunday race and forces a massive delay. Right now, the drivers are actually scattered. Some are in Oklahoma for the Chili Bowl, while others are back at the shops in North Carolina getting ready for the 2026 kickoff.

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What Actually Happened Yesterday?

While the Cup cars were silent, the dirt was flying. Here is the breakdown of what went down at the SageNet Center in Tulsa:

• Emerson Axsom won the A-Main. He cleared Colby Copeland on Lap 18 and never looked back.
• Daison Pursley and Colby Copeland rounded out the podium.
• NASCAR's own Corey Day, who is moving to a full-time ride with Hendrick Motorsports this year, finished a solid 6th.

It's basically the "who's who" of racing, but it's Midget cars, not the heavy stock cars you see at Daytona. If you're looking for the big guys, you’ve still got a couple of weeks to wait.

When Does the Real 2026 NASCAR Cup Season Start?

If you're itching for points-paying action, mark your calendars. The 2026 season is shaping up to be wild, especially with the return of "The Chase" format that NASCAR announced just a few days ago.

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The very first time you’ll see the Cup cars on track for a race (albeit an exhibition one) is February 1, 2026. That’s the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Moving the Clash to Bowman Gray is a massive deal—it's a tiny, flat quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem that's basically a horizontal boxing ring. It’s going to be chaotic.

The 2026 Kickoff Schedule

1. February 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (8:00 PM ET on FOX).
2. February 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona.
3. February 15: The Daytona 500. This is the big one.

Kyle Larson enters this year as the defending champion after a dominant 2025. You've also got some fresh faces to watch, like Connor Zilisch, the 19-year-old phenom taking over the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing. People are talking about him like he’s the next Jeff Gordon, which is a ton of pressure for a kid who can barely rent a car.

Why There Wasn't a Sprint Cup Race Yesterday

The "Sprint Cup" branding officially ended after the 2016 season. It’s been a decade! We went through the Monster Energy era, and now we just call it the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s sort of like how people still call the Sears Tower by its old name.

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NASCAR also strictly follows a February-to-November schedule. They tried mid-week races during the 2020 pandemic era, and while some fans loved it, the TV ratings and track attendance didn't quite justify making it a permanent thing. So, unless it's a rainout, you aren't going to find a Cup race on a Wednesday in January.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans

If you're trying to keep track of who won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race yesterday or any other day, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:

• Download the NASCAR App: It sounds basic, but their "Live Race Center" is the only way to track positions in real-time if you aren't near a TV.
• Check the Chili Bowl Results: If you want to see how Cup guys like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson are doing right now, search for the Chili Bowl Nationals "A-Main" results.
• Set Your DVR for February 1: The Bowman Gray Clash is going to be a highlight reel of flared tempers and dented fenders. You won't want to miss the Cup Series' return to its roots.

The 2026 season officially starts with the Daytona 500 on February 15. Until then, keep an eye on those dirt results from Tulsa—that's where the real "yesterday" winners are found.