You've probably noticed the silence. No roaring V8 engines. No smell of burnt rubber or high-octane fuel hitting the air. It’s mid-January, specifically Saturday, January 17, 2026, and if you're looking for the Cup Series guys on your local FOX or NBC affiliate, you're going to be staring at a lot of basketball or infomercials instead.
Honestly, it’s that weird "limbo" part of the year. The Daytona 500 is close enough to taste, but we aren't quite there yet. If you're searching for nascar on tv today what channel, the answer isn't as straightforward as just flipping to FS1. The "Big Three" series—Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity), and Craftsman Trucks—are still in their winter hibernation.
But wait. Don't put the remote down.
While the main stage is dark, there is actually some massive racing happening right now. You just have to know where to look. Today is actually the biggest day in the midget car racing world: the Saturday Championship Finale of the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals. If you want to see NASCAR stars like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell actually racing today, you aren't looking for a "channel"—you're looking for a stream.
Where to Find Racing Today: January 17, 2026
If you want to watch the stars of NASCAR today, forget the traditional TV Guide.
The action is happening in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the SageNet Center. Because this is a "specialty" event, it isn't on a standard cable network. Basically, if you want to see the 2026 Chili Bowl finale, you’ve gotta head over to FloRacing. They have the exclusive rights for the whole week, including tonight’s "alphabet soup" of races leading up to the main event.
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There's also some regional NASCAR flavor happening. Tucson Speedway is hosting the Chilly Willy 2026. It’s a crown jewel for the NASCAR Regional properties. Again, though, traditional TV is skipping this one. You’ll find the Saturday qualifying and the Super Late Model action starting around 3:45 p.m. ET, also on FloRacing.
It’s kinda annoying that you can’t just hit channel 219 and see cars turning left, but that’s the reality of the modern media landscape. Streaming has effectively taken over the "grassroots" and offseason NASCAR content.
NASCAR on TV Today What Channel: The 2026 Cup Series Outlook
Since you're clearly itching for the season to start, let's talk about the real "today" answer—when the actual TV schedule kicks in. We are exactly two weeks away from the engines firing up for real.
The 2026 season is going to look a little different because of the new media rights deal that fully kicked in last year. We’ve got five different partners now. It’s a lot to keep track of, but here is how the early season breaks down so you can mark your calendars.
The Opening Stretch (FOX and FS1)
The first chunk of the year belongs to the Fox family. This is where most people get back into the rhythm of Sunday afternoons.
- February 1: The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. This is on FOX at 8 p.m. ET. It’s the first time the Clash is at this historic "Madhouse" in Winston-Salem. It’s going to be chaotic.
- February 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona. These are the qualifying races for the 500. Catch them on FS1 starting at 7 p.m. ET.
- February 15: The 68th Running of the Daytona 500. This is the big one. FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The Mid-Season Shift (Amazon and TNT)
This is the part that still trips people up. Once we get into late May and June, you won't find the Cup Series on "TV" in the traditional sense for a few weeks.
Prime Video (Amazon) takes over for five races starting with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. After that, TNT returns to NASCAR for a five-race stretch that includes the return to Chicagoland and the inaugural San Diego Street Course race on June 21. If you're looking for nascar on tv today what channel during the summer, you'll likely be looking for an app on your smart TV rather than a channel number.
Why the Schedule Matters More in 2026
NASCAR made some massive changes to the 2026 schedule that affect where and when you watch. For one, the "In-Season Tournament" is a huge deal this year. That’s going to be the focal point of the TNT broadcast window.
Also, we’ve got a massive venue shakeup. The championship race has moved. After years of finishing the season in the desert at Phoenix, the 2026 Championship will be decided at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8. That race will be on NBC.
It’s a win for fans who missed the multi-line racing of Miami, but it means the "fall" schedule on USA Network and NBC has been shifted around quite a bit.
Quick Reference for 2026 Broadcast Partners
- FOX/FS1: First 14 events (including the Clash and All-Star Race).
- Prime Video: 5 mid-season races (The "Streaming" block).
- TNT: 5 mid-season races (Including the In-Season Tournament).
- USA Network/NBC: The final 14 races and the entire Playoffs.
- The CW: Every single O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) race.
Practical Steps for the Race Fan Today
Since there isn't a Cup race on a major network this afternoon, what should you actually do?
First, if you're a die-hard, get that FloRacing subscription for a month. Watching Kyle Larson try to defend his Chili Bowl title against the best dirt racers in the world is arguably better than a mid-season pavement race anyway. The broadcast quality for these "small" events has skyrocketed recently.
Second, check your local listings for NASCAR Night events if you live near an ECHL hockey team. For example, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits are doing a massive NASCAR night today with guys like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Todd Gilliland. It’s a cool way to see the drivers in person during the break.
Lastly, make sure your streaming apps are updated. With the 2026 season moving between FOX, FS1, Prime, TNT, USA, and NBC, you really need a "hub" like a Roku or Apple TV where you have all these apps signed in and ready. Nothing is worse than the green flag dropping and you're stuck on a "Forgot Password" screen.
The wait is almost over. Two weeks until Bowman Gray. Hang in there.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Download the NASCAR App: It sounds basic, but they’ve integrated the 2026 TV schedules and "where to watch" buttons directly into the home screen based on your location.
- Check FloRacing for the Chili Bowl: The Saturday night A-Main (the championship race) usually starts late, around 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. ET.
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official NASCAR website and use the "Add to Calendar" feature for the 2026 Cup Series. It automatically updates the channel/platform for each race so you never have to search for it on a Sunday morning.