It is mid-January, and if you are staring at your TV guide wondering what time is nascar green flag today, I have some news that might be a little bit of a letdown. Or maybe a relief, depending on how much yard work you have piled up.
Right now, as of Thursday, January 15, 2026, there is no engines-firing, rubber-burning NASCAR Cup Series race happening today. I know, I know. We’re all itching for that first smell of high-octane fuel and the sound of 40 cars screaming toward Turn 1. But we are currently in that weird "liminal space" of the racing calendar. We've moved past the holiday slump, but we haven't quite reached the "Madhouse" yet.
If you’re looking for the absolute first time a green flag drops for the heavy hitters this year, you’re looking at Sunday, February 1, 2026. That is when the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium goes green at 8:00 p.m. ET.
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When Does the 2026 Season Actually Start?
Technically, the "preseason" starts in about two weeks. NASCAR is returning to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for the second year in a row. They call it "The Madhouse" for a reason. It's a tiny quarter-mile track around a football field. It’s chaotic. It’s cramped. It usually ends with someone wanting to fight someone else in the infield.
But if you are a "points race" purist, your date is February 15, 2026. That is the Daytona 500. The Great American Race. That green flag is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.
Here is the breakdown of the immediate "Big Three" dates you need to circle on your calendar so you don't keep searching for the start time every weekend:
- The Cook Out Clash (Exhibition): Feb 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
- The Duel at Daytona (Qualifying Races): Feb 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
- The Daytona 500 (Season Opener): Feb 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Why Today is Actually Important for NASCAR Fans
Wait. Don't close the tab yet. While there isn't a race today, January 15 is actually a massive day in the NASCAR world. Today is the official Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Season Preview day.
NASCAR.com and various team outlets are currently dropping deep-dive looks into how teams like RCR are prepping for the 2026 season. We are seeing the first real glimpses of the 2026 liveries and hearing the "off-season talk" about car setups. Honestly, this is the week where the "Silly Season" rumors finally die and the reality of the 2026 roster sets in.
You've probably noticed a few changes if you haven't been paying attention since Phoenix last November. We've got a massive schedule shakeup this year. For the first time in ages, the Championship 4 isn't happening in the desert. We are going back to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the finale on November 8.
What Time Is NASCAR Green Flag Today for Other Series?
Maybe you aren't looking for the Cup Series. Maybe you’re an IMSA fan or follow the regional ranks.
If you are down in Florida or planning a trip, the Roar Before the 24 starts tomorrow, January 16, at Daytona International Speedway. That is the precursor to the Rolex 24. While it's not "stock car" racing in the traditional sense, it's the first real competitive track time of the year at a major NASCAR-owned venue.
For the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (the series formerly known as Xfinity—get used to that name change, it's going to take a while), they don't even start their engines until February 14 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is even further out, with their Daytona opener on Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The 2026 Schedule: What’s New and What’s Weird?
NASCAR 101: The schedule is never just a copy-paste from the year before. 2026 is particularly wild. We have a street race in San Diego on June 21. Think about that. Cup cars on the streets of a Naval Base. It’s part of a massive celebration for the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary.
Then you have Chicagoland Speedway. It’s back. After years of being left for dead, that 1.5-mile tri-oval returns on July 5. It’s basically the "comeback kid" of the 2026 season.
Key 2026 Race Start Times (ET)
- Atlanta (Feb 22): 3:00 p.m.
- Circuit of the Americas (March 1): 3:30 p.m.
- Phoenix (March 8): 3:30 p.m.
- Las Vegas (March 15): 4:00 p.m.
- Bristol Night Race (Sept 19): 7:30 p.m.
Basically, if the sun is up on a Sunday afternoon in 2026, there is a 90% chance a race is either starting or midway through Stage 2.
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How to Watch NASCAR in 2026
The TV situation is... complicated. It's not just "turn on channel 4" anymore.
FOX and FS1 still handle the first half of the season, including the Daytona 500 and the Clash. But keep an eye on Prime Video. Amazon is taking over a five-race chunk starting with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. If you don't have a Prime subscription by Memorial Day, you’re going to be staring at a blank screen while everyone else is watching the longest race of the year.
TNT Sports also jumps back into the mix for a five-race "In-Season Challenge" starting June 28 at Sonoma. It's a tournament-style format with a $1 million prize. It’s kinda like the NBA’s mid-season tournament, but with more drafting and pit stops.
Common Misconceptions About Today’s "Race"
Every year around January 15, search traffic spikes for "what time is the race." It usually happens because people remember the old "Winter Heat" series or they confuse the ARCA testing dates with actual races.
ARCA Menards Series teams are often testing at Daytona around this time, but those aren't televised events you can sit down and watch with a bowl of wings. You're mostly looking at timing sheets and grainy Twitter (X) videos of cars doing single-car runs.
The real deal doesn't start until the lights go on at Bowman Gray in February.
Actionable Steps for the NASCAR Fan Today
Since there isn't a green flag today, here is how you can actually prepare for when the season kicks off in two weeks:
- Check your streaming logins: Make sure your FOX Sports app works and, more importantly, check your Amazon Prime and Max (for TNT/Bleacher Report) credentials. You'll need them by May.
- Update your calendar: Don't just rely on memory. The 2026 schedule has shifted several traditional dates. Watkins Glen, for example, is now a spring race on May 10 instead of a late-summer playoff staple.
- Follow the RCR Preview: Since today is Richard Childress Racing's day in the spotlight, go check out the 2026 paint schemes for Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon. They usually drop some behind-the-scenes footage of the shop prep.
- Look into "The Chase": NASCAR officially brought back "The Chase" branding and format for 2026. It’s a 16-driver, 10-race postseason with a points reset. It's a bit of a "back to the future" move that fans are already arguing about on Reddit.
So, while there is no NASCAR green flag today, the countdown is officially under 20 days. Use this time to convince your spouse why you need three different streaming services to watch cars turn left for the next ten months.
Next Step: You can head over to the official NASCAR YouTube channel where they are currently hosting "Season Preview" videos for each team, or check your local listings for the Rolex 24 practice sessions starting tomorrow.