NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

  • The NASCAR Cup Series will again feature 36 points-scoring races in 2026, from February through November.
  • There is a new postseason format in play from 2026 with the return of the Chase.
  • This is the 2026 schedule, as two-time champion Kyle Larson defends the title he won in Phoenix in November 2025.

    Date Race Track Time (ET) TV
    February 4Cook Out ClashBowman Gray Stadium6pmFOX
    February 12Duel 1 at DAYTONADaytona International Speedway7pmFS1
    February 12Duel 2 at DAYTONADaytona International Speedway8.45pmFS1
    February 15DAYTONA 500Daytona International Speedway1.30pmFOX
    February 22Autotrader 400Echopark Speedway3pmFOX
    March 1DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyneCircuit Of The Americas3.30pmFOX
    March 8Straight Talk Wireless 500Phoenix Raceway3.30pmFS1
    March 15Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy LubeLas Vegas Motor Speedway4pmFS1
    March 22Goodyear 400Darlington Raceway3pmFS1
    March 29Cook Out 400Martinsville Speedway3.30pmFS1
    April 12Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway3pmFS1
    April 19AdventHealth 400Kansas Speedway2pmFOX
    April 26Jack Link's 500Talladega Superspeedway3pmFOX
    May 3Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTexas Motor Speedway3.30pmFS1
    May 10Go Bowling At The GlenWatkins Glen International3pmFS1
    May 17NASCAR All-Star RaceDover Motor Speedway1pmFS1
    May 24Coca-Cola 600Charlotte Motor Speedway6pmPrime
    May 31Cracker Barrel 400Nashville Superspeedway7pmPrime
    June 7FireKeepers Casino 400Michigan International Speedway3pmPrime
    June 14NASCAR Cup Series Race at PoconoPocono Raceway3pmPrime
    June 21Anduril 250San Diego Street Race4pmPrime
    June 28Toyota/Save Mart 350Sonoma Raceway3.30pmTNT Sports
    July 5NASCAR Cup Series Race at ChicagolandChicagoland Speedway6pmTNT Sports
    July 12Quaker State 400 Available At WalmartEchopark Speedway7pmTNT Sports
    July 19Window World 400North Wilkesboro Speedway7pmTNT Sports
    July 26Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway2pmTNT Sports
    August 9Iowa Corn 350 Powered by EthanolIowa Speedway3.30pmUSA
    August 15Cook Out 400Richmond Raceway7pmUSA
    August 23NASCAR Cup Series Race at New HampshireNew Hampshire Motor Speedway3pmUSA
    August 29Coke Zero Sugar 400Daytona International Speedway7.30pmNBC
    September 6Cook Out Southern 500Darlington Raceway5pmUSA
    September 13Enjoy Illinois 300World Wide Technology Raceway3pmUSA
    September 19Bass Pro Shops Night RaceBristol Motor Speedway7.30pmUSA
    September 27Hollywood Casino 400Kansas Speedway3pmUSA
    October 4South Point 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway5.30pmUSA
    October 11Bank of America 400Charlotte Motor Speedway3pmUSA
    October 18Freeway Insurance 500Phoenix Raceway3pmUSA
    October 25Yellawood 500Talladega Superspeedway2pmNBC
    November 1Xfinity 500Martinsville Speedway2pmNBC
    November 8NASCAR Cup Series Championship RaceHomestead-Miami Speedway3pmNBC

    Cup Series Schedule explained

  • The NASCAR Cup Series has 36 points-eligible races each season. A regular season of 26 races, and then 10 in the postseason, which changes to the Chase in 2026.
  • The top 10 drivers after the regular season will qualify for the Chase (there is no 'win and you're in' from 2026 onwards). Points will reset after the regular season BUT there will be a points advantage for drivers at the top of the standings going in.

    NASCAR Cup Series on TV

  • NASCAR signed a new $7.7billion TV rights deal in 2024 which began in 2025 and runs through 2031.
  • TV rights for the Cup series see races split between FOX, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports and NBC.
  • The new deal has a smaller number of races on the major networks - for example NBC now farms out a number of races to its USA network. This has led to complaints from fans and analysis.
  • The new rights deal led to TV ratings for the Cup Series falling by c. 15 percent in 2025, but NASCAR brass claims that is in line with its expectations.