NASCAR has officially dropped the full start times and TV lineup for the 2026 season — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most unique and diverse schedules the sport has seen in years. From a season kickoff at historic Bowman Gray Stadium to a brand-new street race inside a U.S. Naval base, fans are in for a wild ride.

FOX Sets the Tone to Start the Season

The NASCAR Cup Series fires up under the lights at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1st, live on FOX. Speedweeks return with familiar staples:

• Daytona 500 Qualifying (Feb. 11 – FS1)

• Daytona Duel (Feb. 12 – FS1)

• The 2026 Daytona 500 (Feb. 15 – FOX)

FOX will continue its early-season dominance with stops at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway, COTA, Kansas, and Talladega — plus new additions like Watkins Glen and the first-ever NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover.

Prime Video Continues Its NASCAR Expansion

Amazon’s Prime Video begins its second season of NASCAR coverage with a Memorial Day weekend return to Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24). The streaming giant also heads to Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, and closes its 2026 run with a first-of-its-kind event:
📍 A street race on Naval Base Coronado in San Diego (June 21).
This will be one of the most anticipated events of the year.

TNT Sports Sparks the Summer Stretch

TNT Sports takes the handoff in late June, kicking off at Sonoma Raceway and continuing with:

• A return to Chicagoland Speedway

• Atlanta under the lights

• The first points race at North Wilkesboro since 1996

• The legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The mid-season TNT run should generate major buzz — especially with the In-Season Challenge entering its second year.

USA Network & NBC Anchor the Playoffs

The final 14 races will live on USA Network and NBC/Peacock, beginning at Iowa and building all the way to a familiar but long-missed finale:
🏁 The NASCAR Championship returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 8) for the first time since 2019.

This alone will have fans fired up — Homestead is widely considered one of the best championship venues in NASCAR history.

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O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Continues Its Growth on The CW

The CW remains the exclusive home for all 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races. Highlights include:

• Opening at Daytona (Feb. 14)

• The return to Rockingham Speedway

• A San Diego date matching Cup’s Coronado weekend

• A season finale at Homestead-Miami (Nov. 7)

The CW’s first season was historic — and 2026 looks even bigger.

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Craftsman Truck Series Brings Variety & New Venues

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series remains under the FOX Sports umbrella with 25 races across FOX and FS1. The schedule features a mix of short tracks, road courses, and iconic venues, plus a major addition:
🆕 The inaugural Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Feb. 28) — on FOX.

The Trucks will also battle on Lime Rock Park, North Wilkesboro, the Charlotte ROVAL, and wrap up in Miami.

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What It Means for Fans — and for Drivers

The 2026 NASCAR season blends heritage, innovation, and major broadcast partners in a way the sport hasn’t seen before.
From old-school short tracks to military bases and street courses, NASCAR continues to diversify the racing product while giving fans more ways to watch — across network TV, cable, and streaming.

For Race Face drivers and families, this also means more visibility, more opportunity, and more eyes on the sport from February through November.