One month out from the new season



The Rolex 24 at Daytona starts on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1:40 p.m. ET, kicking off the annual 24-hour endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway, with the checkered flag waving Sunday afternoon, January 25, 2026.

NASCAR schedule:

Sunday
Feb. 1
8:00 pm ET
Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

Thursday
Feb. 12
7:00 pm ET
America 250 Florida Duel 1 at DAYTONA

Thursday
Feb. 12
8:45 pm ET
America 250 Florida Duel 2 at DAYTONA

Sunday
Feb. 15
2:30 pm ET
DAYTONA 500

Thanks Glass, I'm ready for the new season

Ready for the season to start as well. Going to be a lot of story lines and potential for driver movement around. And of course some good on track racing.

NASCAR has designated for the first three races, a "new OEM provisional" -- obviously for Ram. In first three races, if an entry from new OEM doesn't qualify, they get spots from 37-40th. Helps to get points until current season points kick in.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 16, 2026

I like the changes to the "chase" but I'm a traditionalist. I would like to eliminate stage racing and competition cautions and base the championship totally off season points. Like it used to be. I'm old…

Glasswolf said:

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Thursday
Feb. 12
7:00 pm ET
America 250 Florida Duel 1 at DAYTONA

Thursday
Feb. 12
8:45 pm ET
America 250 Florida Duel 2 at DAYTONA

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Aren't these more laps than they used to be? If it's like anything else NASCAR, it's probably something that happened a year or more ago and I just didn't realize it.

Glasswolf said:

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Sunday
Feb. 1
8:00 pm ET
Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

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Another completely wasted Clash location. I don't even care about watching on these ridiculous tracks anymore...

First, 3 years of the LA Coliseum and now another year of Bowman Gray Stadium.

Agree, the Clash doesn't do much for me. These short, flat tracks just dont make for good racing when it comes to Cup cars. Weekend short track racing....yes, its exciting as hell. I've been to Friday night races there.....doesn't get much better for action, fighting, etc. But for Cup series, it's too tight.

I would rather see something at Rockingham or similar track. Southern National would be better than Bowman Gray.

ge_traveler said:

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But for Cup series, it's too tight.

I would rather see something at Rockingham or similar track.

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Yep. Cup cars are too heavy and powerful to provide good racing on these Late Model Stocks type tracks.

Agreed, can't get the power down before having to let up to make the corner

The Bowmen Gray thing had to do ( my understanding ) with the SRX series going to local tracks and drawing interest. NASCAR bought I think a 100 or 50 year lease to operate Bowmen Gray. ( I don't hate it but I also don't love it ). Me personally I would love for the Clash to go back to Daytona, but talking around folks not sure if that's in the cards? Maybe one day.

ge_traveler said:

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Agree, the Clash doesn't do much for me. These short, flat tracks just dont make for good racing when it comes to Cup cars. Weekend short track racing....yes, its exciting as hell. I've been to Friday night races there.....doesn't get much better for action, fighting, etc. But for Cup series, it's too tight.

I would rather see something at Rockingham or similar track. Southern National would be better than Bowman Gray.

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I was thinking last night that the Rock would be a great place to hold the Busch Clash. Or just tack in back to Daytona and bring back the Daytona July race.