If you’re staring at your TV guide looking for Cup cars screaming around a superspeedway, you’re about a month too early. Honestly, the "official" season doesn't kick off until the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1st. But for the real gearheads—the ones who can't wait for the Madhouse or the Daytona 500—the NASCAR race this week is all about the desert. We are talking about the 2026 Chilly Willy at Tucson Speedway. It is cold. It is fast. And it is arguably the most prestigious short-track event on the West Coast that most casual fans completely overlook.
Starting Friday, January 16, and running through Sunday, January 18, over 100 entries are descending on a 3/8-mile asphalt oval in Arizona. This isn't just some local hobbyist meet. This is where the next generation of stars like Connor Zilisch or Carson Kvapil often cut their teeth before moving into the big-league spotlight.
What is the Chilly Willy and why should you care?
Basically, while the Cup Series guys are still at home nursing off-season surgeries—like Brad Keselowski, who’s currently rehabbing a broken femur and will miss the Clash—the regional pros are fighting for a $20,000 winner’s check. That’s a massive payday for a Super Late Model race.
Tucson Speedway has held this tradition since 2014. It’s a crown jewel of the NASCAR Regional program. If you've never watched a Super Late Model race, you're missing out on the rawest form of stock car racing. These cars are lighter, punchier, and way more temperamental than the Next Gen cars you see on Sundays.
The schedule is packed this weekend:
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- Friday, Jan 16: Features for Super Late Models and Legends.
- Saturday, Jan 17: The CARS Tour West Pro Late Models launch their season with a 125-lap main event.
- Sunday, Jan 18: The big one. The Super Late Model finale.
You won't find this on FOX or NBC yet. You have to head over to FloRacing to catch it live. It’s the official streaming home for all this regional action, and frankly, the camera angles at these short tracks give you a much better sense of speed than the wide-angle shots at Talladega.
The big changes looming over the 2026 season
While Tucson is the focus for the NASCAR race this week, everyone in the garage is talking about the massive bombshells NASCAR dropped for the 2026 Cup season. We are seeing a total identity shift.
First off, the "Win and You’re In" era is dead. Gone. Caput.
NASCAR is reverting to a "Chase" format that actually rewards consistency. You can't just luck into a win at a fuel-mileage race and coast for the rest of the summer. Now, race winners get 55 points (a 15-point bump), but you have to be at the top of the standings to even make the postseason. No more playoff points carrying over, either. It’s a reset that’s going to make every single lap matter more than they have in a decade.
Then there's the horsepower. NASCAR finally listened. For tracks under 1.5 miles and road courses, they are bumping the target from 670 to 750 horsepower. This is huge for guys like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. They grew up in high-horsepower sprint cars where throttle control is everything. More power means more off-throttle time, more tire wear, and—hopefully—way more passing.
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Drivers to watch and the Silly Season fallout
Even though they aren't in Tucson, the Cup guys are already making moves. The biggest story of 2026 is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch taking over the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing. This kid is a phenom. He had a 10-win season in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series last year, and people are already comparing him to a young Jeff Gordon.
And then there's the veteran shuffle:
- Daniel Suárez has moved to Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 7.
- Corey LaJoie is stepping in for the injured Brad Keselowski in the No. 6 RFK Ford for the upcoming Clash.
- Shane van Gisbergen is moving into the No. 97 for Trackhouse.
- Cole Custer is back in the Cup Series with the Haas Factory Team.
It’s a lot to keep track of. But that’s why these early January races like the Chilly Willy are so cool. They represent the calm before the absolute storm that is the 2026 schedule. We’re going to San Diego for a street race at Naval Base Coronado in June. We’re going back to Chicagoland in July. We’re even heading back to North Wilkesboro for a real points-paying race—the Window World 450.
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How to watch the NASCAR race this week
If you want to see the Chilly Willy, here is the breakdown of the broadcast times (all times Eastern):
- Friday Night (7:45 PM): The action starts under the lights.
- Saturday Afternoon (3:45 PM): The CARS Tour West debut.
- Sunday Afternoon (2:45 PM): The $20,000 Super Late Model finale.
Most people get wrong that NASCAR "starts" at Daytona. It doesn't. It starts in the dirt and on the short tracks of Arizona and Florida in January. While the IMSA guys are also testing at Daytona this week for the Roar Before the Rolex 24, the Chilly Willy is where you’ll see door-to-door, fender-rubbing stock car action.
Don't expect "clean" air to matter here. At Tucson, it's about who can late-brake into Turn 1 without wiping out the guy next to them. It’s survival of the fittest.
Actionable next steps for fans
If you’re looking to get your racing fix before the Clash at Bowman Gray, do these three things:
- Check out the FloRacing schedule. If you don't have a subscription, this is the week to get it so you're set for the regional season.
- Follow the Chilly Willy entry list. Keep an eye on names like Dustin Ash or the West Coast Super Late Model aces; these guys are often better short-track racers than the Cup regulars.
- Look at the 2026 Cup Schedule. Map out your summer now because the addition of San Diego and the return to Homestead-Miami for the Championship race (Nov 8) means travel plans need to happen early.
The 2026 season is going to be a wild, high-horsepower ride. Starting it in the Arizona desert at Tucson Speedway is the best way to get ahead of the curve.