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NASCAR announces start times, networks for 2026 national series races

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NASCAR on Wednesday announced the start times and networks for all of its national series races for the 2026 season, with the Daytona 500 set for 2:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 15 on FOX.

Two weeks earlier, on Feb. 1, FOX will televise the Cook Out Clash’s return to Bowman Gray Stadium at 8 p.m. ET. This will be the second straight season that the annual exhibition race will take place in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, venue affectionately known as “The Madhouse.”

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Prime Video will kick off its second year of NASCAR coverage at 6 p.m. ET on May 24 with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Another highlight of Prime’s five-race run will be the 4 p.m. ET race on June 21 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego as NASCAR celebrates the 250-year anniversary of the U.S. Navy.

TNT Sports will take over with a 3:30 p.m. ET start time on June 28 from picturesque Sonoma Raceway. This road-course showdown will also mark the beginning of the In-Season Challenge, a five-race segment where the top drivers will battle for a $1 million prize in a tournament-style format.

USA Sports will close out the season with the final 14 races across USA Network, NBC and Peacock, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 9 from Iowa Speedway on USA Network. The season will culminate with the NASCAR Championship airing on NBC at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 8 from Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The newly named NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) will be televised exclusively on The CW again and will start its 2026 season at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 14 from Daytona International Speedway.

The Craftsman Truck Series will once again be carried on FOX Sports and will get underway on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 13 from Daytona International Speedway.

In addition, and as announced previously, FOX will air all 20 ARCA Menards Series races across FOX, FS1 and FS2, beginning with the season opener at noon ET on Feb. 14 from Daytona International Speedway.

Look below for the full slate of start times for the NASCAR national series and start making your plans to attend the 2026 NASCAR races:

*Playoff Races

NASCAR CUP SERIES

| DATE | RACE | PLATFORM | START (ET)

| Sun., Feb. 1 | Clash (Bowman Gray Stadium) | FOX | 8 p.m.

| Thu., Feb. 12 | Daytona – Duels | FS1 | 7 p.m.

| Sun., Feb. 15 | Daytona 500 | FOX | 2:30 p.m.

| Sun., Feb. 22 | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) | FOX | 3 p.m.

| Sun., March 1 | Circuit of The Americas (Austin) | FOX | 3:30 p.m.

| Sun., March 8 | Phoenix Raceway | FS1 | 3:30 p.m.

| Sun., March 15 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | FS1 | 4 p.m.

| Sun., March 22 | Darlington Raceway | FS1 | 3 p.m.

| Sun., March 29 | Martinsville Speedway | FS1 | 3:30 p.m.

| Sun., April 12 | Bristol Motor Speedway | FS1 | 3 p.m.

| Sun., April 19 | Kansas Speedway | FOX | 2 p.m.

| Sun., April 26 | Talladega Superspeedway | FOX | 3 p.m.

| Sun., May 3 | Texas Motor Speedway | FS1 | 3:30 p.m.

| Sun., May 10 | Watkins Glen International | FS1 | 3 p.m.

| Sun., May 17 | All-Star (Dover Motor Speedway) | FS1 | 3 p.m.

| Sun., May 24 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Prime | 6 p.m.

| Sun., May 31 | Nashville Superspeedway | Prime | 7 p.m.

| Sun., June 7 | Michigan International Speedway | Prime | 3 p.m.

| Sun., June 14 | Pocono Raceway | Prime | 3 p.m.

| Sun., June 21 | San Diego (Naval Base Coronado) | Prime | 4 p.m.

| Sun., June 28 | Sonoma Raceway | TNT | 3:30 p.m.

| Sun., July 5 | Chicagoland Speedway | TNT | 6 p.m.

| Sun., July 12 | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) | TNT | 7 p.m.

| Sun., July 19 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | TNT | 7 p.m.

| Sun., July 26 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | TNT | 2 p.m.

| Sun., Aug. 9 | Iowa Speedway | USA | 3:30 p.m.

| Sat., Aug. 15 | Richmond Raceway | USA | 7 p.m.

| Sun., Aug. 23 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | USA | 3 p.m.

| Sat., Aug. 29 | Daytona International Speedway | NBC | 7:30 p.m.

| Sun., Sept. 6 | Darlington Raceway* | USA | 5 p.m.

| Sun., Sept. 13 | World Wide Technology Raceway (St. Louis)* | USA | 3 p.m.

| Sat., Sept. 19 | Bristol Motor Speedway* | USA | 7:30 p.m.

| Sun., Sept. 27 | Kansas Speedway* | USA | 3 p.m.

| Sun., Oct. 4 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway* | USA | 5:30 p.m.

| Sun., Oct. 11 | Charlotte Roval* | USA | 3 p.m.

| Sun., Oct. 18 | Phoenix Raceway* | USA | 3 p.m.

| Sun., Oct. 25 | Talladega Superspeedway* | NBC | 2 p.m.

| Sun., Nov. 1 | Martinsville Speedway* | NBC | 2 p.m.

| Sun., Nov. 8 | NASCAR Championship* (Homestead-Miami Speedway) | NBC | 3 p.m.

NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SERIES

| DATE | RACE | PLATFORM | START (ET)

| Sat., Feb. 14 | Daytona International Speedway | CW | 5 p.m.

| Sat., Feb. 21 | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) | CW | 5 p.m.

| Sat., Feb. 28 | Circuit of The Americas (Austin) | CW | 3 p.m.

| Sat., March 7 | Phoenix Raceway | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., March 14 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | CW | 5:30 p.m.

| Sat., March 21 | Darlington Raceway | CW | 5:30 p.m.

| Sat., March 28 | Martinsville Speedway | CW | 3:30 p.m.

| Sat., April 4 | Rockingham Speedway | CW | 2:30 p.m.

| Sat., April 11 | Bristol Motor Speedway | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., April 18 | Kansas Speedway | CW | 7 p.m.

| Sat., April 25 | Talladega Superspeedway | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., May 2 | Texas Motor Speedway | CW | 3:30 p.m.

| Sat., May 9 | Watkins Glen International | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., May 16 | Dover Motor Speedway | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., May 23 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | CW | 5 p.m.

| Sat., May 30 | Nashville Superspeedway | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Jun 13 | Pocono Raceway | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., Jun 20 | San Diego (Naval Base Coronado) | CW | 5 p.m.

| Sat., Jun 27 | Sonoma Raceway | CW | 5:30 p.m.

| Sat., July 4 | Chicagoland Speedway | CW | 5:30 p.m.

| Sat., July 11 | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) | CW | 7 p.m.

| Sat., July 25 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., Aug. 8 | Iowa Speedway | CW | 5 p.m.

| Fri., Aug. 28 | Daytona International Speedway | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Sept. 5 | Darlington Raceway | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Sept. 12 | World Wide Technology Raceway (St. Louis) | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Fri., Sept. 18 | Bristol Motor Speedway* | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Oct. 3 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway* | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Oct. 10 | Charlotte Roval* | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., Oct. 17 | Phoenix Raceway* | CW | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Oct. 24 | Talladega Superspeedway* | CW | 3:30 p.m.

| Sat., Oct. 31 | Martinsville Speedway* | CW | 4 p.m.

| Sat., Nov. 7 | NASCAR Championship* (Homestead-Miami Speedway) | CW | 5 p.m.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

| DATE | RACE | PLATFORM | START (ET)

| Fri., Feb. 13 | Daytona International Speedway | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Feb. 21 | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) | FS1 | 1:30 p.m.

| Sat., Feb. 28 | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg | FOX | 12 p.m.

| Fri., March 20 | Darlington Raceway | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Fri., April 3 | Rockingham Speedway | FS1 | 4:30 p.m.

| Fri., April 10 | Bristol Motor Speedway | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Fri., May 1 | Texas Motor Speedway | FS1 | 8 p.m.

| Fri., May 8 | Watkins Glen International | FS1 | 4:30 p.m.

| Fri., May 15 | Dover Motor Speedway | FS1 | 5 p.m.

| Fri., May 22 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Fri., May 29 | Nashville Superspeedway | FS1 | 8 p.m.

| Sat., June 6 | Michigan International Speedway | FS1 | 1:30 p.m.

| Fri., June 19 | San Diego (Naval Base Coronado) | FS1 | 7:00 p.m.

| Sat., July 11 | Lime Rock Park | FS1 | 1 p.m.

| Sat., July 18 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | FS1 | 12:30 p.m.

| Fri., July 24 | Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | FS1 | 8 p.m.

| Fri., Aug. 14 | Richmond Raceway | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Sat., Aug. 22 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | FS1 | 1:30 p.m.

| Thu., Sept. 17 | Bristol Motor Speedway* | FS1 | 8:00 p.m.

| Sat., Sept. 26 | Kansas Speedway* | FS1 | 1 p.m.

| Fri., Oct. 9 | Charlotte Roval* | FOX | 5 p.m.

| Fri., Oct. 16 | Phoenix Raceway* | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

| Fri., Oct. 23 | Talladega Superspeedway* | FS1 | 4 p.m.

| Fri., Oct. 30 | Martinsville Speedway* | FS1 | 6 p.m.

| Fri., Nov. 6 | NASCAR Championship* (Homestead-Miami Speedway) | FS1 | 7:30 p.m.

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Championship Weekend Comes Home: After Seven Years Away, NASCAR’s Titles Return to Homestead

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2 hours ago

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October 27, 2026

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HOMESTEAD, Fla. — For 18 straight years, NASCAR’s season ended under the South Florida sun. From 2002 through 2019, every Cup Series champion was crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway, on a 1.5-mile oval where the fastest line runs inches from the wall and the palm trees sway over the backstretch. Then the finale moved away. This year, it comes home.

NASCAR Championship Weekend runs Nov. 6–8, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and for the first time since 2019 all three national series will settle their championships on the same South Florida weekend. The sport made it official back in May 2025, announcing that Homestead would host the finale as part of a new rotating model — championship weekend will move among tracks year to year, with Homestead first up and Phoenix Raceway, the finale’s home since 2020, staying in the rotation.

“It’s the place to be,” Homestead-Miami Speedway president Guillermo Santa Cruz said when the return was announced. “South Florida is the best place in America to host events — we have the weather, the people, the culture and the excitement.”

A weekend built in threes

The weekend stacks one championship per day. It opens Friday night, Nov. 6, when the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series runs its title race at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 — 134 laps, 201 miles. Trucks get the weekend started early, with practice on Thursday evening and qualifying Friday afternoon.

Saturday, Nov. 7, belongs to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — the circuit formerly known as the Xfinity Series, renamed for 2026. Its championship race goes off at 5 p.m. ET on The CW, 200 laps and 300 miles, with qualifying earlier in the day. When the checkered flag falls, the track keeps the party going with a post-race concert by Orlando Mendez from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 8, is the main event: the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, 267 laps and 400.5 miles, live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET. Before the green flag, a pre-race concert takes over the frontstretch at 1 p.m. — the speedway has announced Miami’s own Jason Derulo will headline it — and when the race ends, fans can reach the frontstretch through the crossover gates for the championship celebration.

The Chase changes everything

This is not the championship format Homestead fans remember. Gone is the elimination playoff that produced a winner-take-all Championship 4. In its place, NASCAR brought back The Chase for 2026 — in all three series.

Here is how it works in the Cup Series: the top 16 drivers in points after the 26-race regular season make the Chase. There is no more “win and you’re in” — a victory no longer locks anyone into the postseason. The 16 are seeded by their regular-season points, with the regular-season champion starting at 2,100 points, and they run 10 races with no eliminations, no rounds and no resets. A race win is worth 55 points, stage points still count, and when the last lap ends at Homestead on Nov. 8, the driver with the most points is the champion. Simple as that.

The other two series run the same playbook on a smaller scale: 12 drivers over nine races in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and 10 drivers over seven races in the Truck Series. All three titles come down to who has been best, most consistently, over the full stretch run — and all three will be decided at Homestead.

With two races left — Martinsville on Nov. 1, then Homestead — Kyle Larson leads the Cup Series Chase after winning at Talladega on Oct. 25, and the field behind him is fighting to keep his run from turning into a coronation. Larson knows this track as well as anyone in the field: he won the Cup races at Homestead in 2022 and again in March 2025. Nothing is decided yet. Under The Chase, every position at Martinsville and every lap at Homestead carries championship weight — there is no scenario where Nov. 8 is a formality.

A track that demands everything

Homestead-Miami Speedway opened in 1995, part of South Florida’s rebuild after Hurricane Andrew, and it has been making champions uncomfortable ever since. The 1.5-mile asphalt oval carries variable banking — 18 to 20 degrees through the turns — that lets drivers search for grip from the apron to the wall. The signature Homestead move is running the top lane, throttle down, with the right side of the car kissing the barrier. It is how Tyler Reddick won here in 2024, and it is how titles were won here for nearly two decades: Jimmie Johnson sealed his record-tying seventh championship at Homestead in 2016, and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019), Brad Keselowski (2012) and Joey Logano (2018) all lifted the Cup at this track.

The grandstands hold 55,000, the Fan Zone opens every race day and stays open until the checkered flag, and the campgrounds fill up early — camper load-in starts Thursday alongside the first practice session. The weekend also has a hometown artistic stamp: Miami pop artist Romero Britto, announced as the weekend’s honorary creative director, designed a special trophy for the winner’s Victory Lane celebration and painted a mural on the speedway tower.

The practical details: tickets, hospitality packages and camping are on sale now through homesteadmiamispeedway.com or by calling 866-409-7223. If you are watching from home, it is FS1 on Friday night, The CW on Saturday, and NBC for the Cup finale on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Seven years ago, Homestead-Miami Speedway stopped being where NASCAR seasons end. On Nov. 8, with three champions crowned in three days and a Chase that rewards the best driver over the long haul, it becomes that place again.

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