The NASCAR Cup Series is slated to kick off with the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Even though it is not a points-paying race, it marks the start of the season for fans and the NASCAR schedule.

Since 1979, the Clash has been a preseason show held at Daytona International Speedway through 2021. The 2021 edition then happened under the lights at Daytona’s road course configuration.

Executive VP Ben Kennedy said NASCAR has spent the past 18 months organizing a new strategy to better utilize its key piece: racetracks.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval may be replaced by the traditional 1.5-mile oval on the 2026 NASCAR schedule, according to a report from The Athletic.

The Charlotte Roval has been removed from the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, now featuring zero road courses in the playoff stretch, according to The Athletic.

Luke Fenhaus is a Wisconsin short-track standout who has dominated late models, impressed on national TV, and climbed NASCAR’s ladder the hard way. Daytona is the next exam.

XI Racing, which introduced Robinhood to NASCAR, announced an expanded sponsorship deal in 2026 with Corey Heim and Bubba Wallace.

Cindric has one win at the track, in 2021 as part of NASCAR’s more junior Xfinity Series. He led the final 51 laps. Since his move into Cup Series cars, Cindric has been less successful at the track since moving up to the Cup Series, placing no higher than 12 th in the four races he’s driven there since 2022.