If you’re refreshing your feed looking for xfinity race results today, you’ve probably realized something kinda weird is going on with the schedule this year. Honestly, it’s a bit of a transition period. We are currently in that strange "limbo" week in mid-January where the engines are quiet at the big ovals, but the dirt is flying elsewhere.
Basically, there wasn't a points race today, January 17, 2026.
The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series—which, yeah, still takes a minute to get used to saying instead of "Xfinity"—is currently in its final hibernation before the February madness at Daytona. But just because there wasn't a checkered flag on a 2.5-mile superspeedway today doesn't mean the series' stars weren't busy. In fact, Jesse Love, the defending 2025 champion, just gave everyone a heart attack in Tulsa.
Jesse Love and the Chili Bowl Chaos
You can't talk about xfinity race results today without mentioning what happened late last night and into the early hours of this Saturday at the Chili Bowl Nationals. Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, was battling for a transfer spot in the Friday night preliminary.
It was intense.
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Coming off the final corner, Love and Giovanni Scelzi were door-to-door for 5th place. They banged wheels right at the start-finish line. Love’s midget car launched into the air like a toy, flipping three times into turn one. He actually landed back on all four wheels, but the damage was done. While the "results" will show him finishing 6th in that prelim, the real news is that his car is too thrashed to compete in tonight’s big finale. He’s okay, which is the main thing, but the reigning champ won't be adding a Golden Driller to his trophy case this weekend.
The 2026 Xfinity Schedule Shakeup
A lot of fans are searching for xfinity race results today because the new 2026 schedule has everyone’s internal clock a little messed up. NASCAR recently brought back "The Chase" format, and with it came some shifting of the regular-season dates.
Here is what the lead-up to the actual season opener looks like:
- February 12: The America 250 Florida Duels at Daytona. This is where the real drafting begins.
- February 14: The United Rentals 300. This is the official points-paying season opener. Mark your calendar for a 5:00 PM ET start on Saturday.
- February 21: The Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta).
It’s a long wait. I get it. We’ve still got about three weeks before we see these guys back in the heavy stock cars.
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Who to Watch in 2026
While we wait for the actual xfinity race results today to start populating with names like Aric Almirola and Justin Allgaier, the entry lists are already telling a fascinating story. Connor Zilisch is the name on everyone’s lips. The kid is a literal prodigy. Even though he's technically moving up to Cup with Trackhouse, he’s still expected to be a force in select events.
Remember last August at Daytona? Zilisch "won" the race despite only driving 13 laps before getting out of the car because of a broken collarbone. Parker Kligerman finished the job for him. That's the kind of drama we're heading into this season.
We also have some major team shifts. RWR (Rick Ware Racing) has officially switched to Chevrolet and formed a technical alliance with RCR. This means those cars are going to be significantly faster than what we saw a couple of years ago.
The New Points System and "The Chase"
NASCAR decided to go back to the future for 2026. They've reintroduced a postseason format they're calling "The Chase" for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. It’s a 12-driver, nine-race shootout that starts at Darlington.
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The biggest change? The "Xfinity Fastest Lap" bonus.
In an effort to keep drivers from "riding around" in the back during long green-flag runs, there are now bonus points available for the fastest lap of the race. It sorta mimics what F1 does, but in a way that actually matters for a stock car championship. A "perfect" race weekend can now net a driver 76 points.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since there are no live xfinity race results today, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve before the green flag drops at Daytona:
- Watch the Chili Bowl Finale: Even without Jesse Love, stars like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell are the favorites for tonight's main event in Tulsa.
- Check the Entry Lists: Keep an eye on the Daytona "Open" spots. With Jimmie Johnson locked into the 500, the trickle-down effect on Xfinity team equipment for the opener is going to be huge.
- Update Your Apps: If your sports app still says "Xfinity Series," make sure it's updated to reflect the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series branding so you don't miss the live leaderboard on February 14.
The wait is almost over. Daytona is 28 days away, and the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in the history of the series.
Watch for the Daytona Duels on February 12th to see the first official 2026 results.