Honestly, the wait for the engines to roar again always feels longer than it actually is. If you're wondering when does NASCAR race again, mark your calendar for February 1, 2026. That is the day the Cup Series officially kicks things off with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
It’s gonna be wild.
We are talking about "The Madhouse" in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This isn't your typical high-banked superspeedway; it's a tight, flat quarter-mile oval that usually sees more bumper-to-bumper action in ten laps than some tracks see in an entire afternoon. It's the second year in a row NASCAR has brought the preseason exhibition to this historic venue, and if 2025 was any indication, 2026 is going to be a slugfest.
The main event starts at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
But that's just the appetizer. The real, points-paying season starts exactly two weeks later with the biggest race of the year.
The Road to the 2026 Daytona 500
The official points season begins with Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. If you want the specific timing for the "Great American Race," the 2026 Daytona 500 is set for Sunday, February 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET. You’ll find it on FOX.
Before we even get to Sunday, though, the week is packed.
- Wednesday, Feb. 11: Pole Qualifying (who's the fastest?).
- Thursday, Feb. 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels (the twin 150-mile qualifying races) at 7 p.m. ET.
- Friday, Feb. 13: The Craftsman Truck Series season opener at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Saturday, Feb. 14: The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) at 5 p.m. ET.
It’s basically a four-day marathon of speed and stress.
Big Changes You Need to Know for 2026
NASCAR didn't just copy and paste the old schedule this year. They moved things around quite a bit. One of the most talked-about shifts is where the championship trophy gets handed out. For the last few years, we've ended the season in the desert at Phoenix. Not this time.
The 2026 Season Finale is moving back to Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8. Fans have been begging for this for a long time. Homestead’s multi-groove racing and worn-out surface usually provide a much better show for a winner-take-all finale than Phoenix did.
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New Tracks and Returning Favorites
There is some genuinely cool stuff happening in the middle of the year.
- San Diego Street Race: On June 21, the Cup Series heads to Naval Base Coronado for a street race. This is a huge deal. It’s essentially a 250-year anniversary celebration for the U.S. Navy. It replaces the Chicago Street Race, which is taking a break for now.
- The Return of Chicagoland: Speaking of Chicago, the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet—Chicagoland Speedway—is back on the schedule for July 5. It hasn't hosted a Cup race since 2019.
- North Wilkesboro is for Real Now: After a few years of being an exhibition "All-Star" host, North Wilkesboro Speedway finally gets a points-paying race on July 19.
If you were looking for a race in Mexico City this year, I’ve got some bad news. NASCAR decided to skip Mexico for 2026 because of a scheduling conflict with the FIFA World Cup. They are looking at 2027 for a potential return to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The Mid-Season TV Shakeup
Watching NASCAR in 2026 is going to require a little bit of channel surfing. The sport is entering its second year of a massive new media rights deal.
FOX and FS1 carry the first 14 races (including the Clash and the All-Star race).
Prime Video takes over for a five-race stretch starting with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.
TNT Sports follows Prime with another five-race stretch, including the start of the "In-Season Challenge" on June 28 at Sonoma.
NBC and USA Network finish the year, broadcasting the final 14 races, including the entire playoff run.
Basically, if it’s summer, you're probably looking for Prime or TNT. If it’s autumn, head to NBC.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Don't wait until February 1 to realize your cable package doesn't have FS1 or that you forgot your Prime password.
- Check your subscriptions: Ensure you have access to FOX, FS1, USA Network, and NBC. If you're a cord-cutter, services like YouTube TV or FuboTV usually carry these.
- Get Prime Video and Max: You will need Amazon Prime for the late-spring races and either a cable login or a Max subscription (for TNT) for the mid-summer stretch.
- Sync the calendar: Most NASCAR fans use the official app to sync the schedule directly to their phone. It’s the easiest way to keep track of the weird start times, like the 8 p.m. start for the Clash or the 7:30 p.m. Saturday night race at Daytona in August.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most geographically diverse schedules we've seen in decades. Between a military base in San Diego and the return to the "Madhouse" in Winston-Salem, the variety is actually pretty impressive.
Get your gear ready. February will be here before you know it.