The NASCAR second-tier championship steps into 2026 with a fresh identity. After eleven seasons under the Xfinity banner, the series adopts the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series name, but the weekend rhythm remains largely unchanged: Saturday afternoons and evenings will host the bulk of the action from Daytona to Homestead-Miami. A total of 33 race weekends have been plotted, delivering a packed summer calendar that culminates in a dramatic championship showdown.
Complete 2026 race calendar and early-season winners
The season opens on February 14 with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway where Austin Hill claimed the inaugural victory. The following week at EchoPark Speedway, Sheldon Creed took the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250, while the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas on February 28 saw Shane van Gisbergen atop the podium. Phoenix Raceway hosted the GOVX 200 on March 7, won by Justin Allgaier, and the LiUNA! race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14 featured Kyle Larson as victor. The schedule continues with notable stops at Darlington, Martinsville, Rockingham, Bristol, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Watkins Glen, Dover, Charlotte, Nashville, Pocono, Naval Base Coronado, Sonoma, Chicagoland, Indianapolis, Iowa, and a second Daytona outing at the season’s end.
Playoff stretch and championship finale
After the regular slate, the playoff format launches on September 5 with the Fleetio 200 at Darlington, where Sheldon Creed secured a crucial win. The next two playoff races—Nu Way 225 at World Wide Technology Raceway (Sept. 12) and the Food City 300 at Bristol (Sept. 18)—were taken by Jesse Love and Sheldon Creed respectively. The final three playoff events are slated for Las Vegas (Oct. 3), Charlotte (Oct. 11), and Talladega (Oct. 24), all broadcast on The CW and available via DIRECTV. The championship race crowns the season on November 7 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, again on The CW, completing the points battle.
Broadcast platform and streaming options
Every O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race will be aired on The CW Network. Fans who prefer an internet feed can watch live through DIRECTV which also carries ancillary coverage such as practice and qualifying sessions via the network’s app. The partnership also promotes a free trial of DIRECTV, granting access to a suite of sports channels—including TNT, ESPN, and NFL Network—without a contractual commitment. For cord-cutters, Tablo TV offers a low-cost alternative: a one-time hardware purchase (around $100) plus an antenna provides free over-the-air channels, recording capabilities, and multi-device streaming, making The CW’s races reachable without a monthly subscription.
Young’s Motorsports steps up with Ryan Ellis
In a strategic move, Young’s Motorsports promotes its flagship No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro to a full-time slot in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for 2026. Veteran driver Ryan Ellis—a 35-year-old Virginian with more than a decade of experience across the Cup and Truck Series—will pilot the car for the entire 33-race itinerary, starting at Phoenix’s Timberland PRO 200 on October 16 and concluding at Homestead-Miami in November. Ellis entered the season ranked 27th in driver points and 34th in owner points, but his recent top-10 finish in 2025 suggests a push for higher placement. The team retains Tablo TV as its primary partner for the Phoenix round, emphasizing a fan-centric viewing solution that blends free broadcast reception with DVR functionality.
Phoenix weekend: a three-series showdown
From October 16 to 18, Phoenix Raceway will host the final leg of the 2026 Chase, featuring the three national series on a single weekend. The Truck Series kicks off Friday night with the Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 on FS2, streamed on FOX One. Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Timberland PRO 200 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW and can be streamed via ESPN Unlimited. Sunday caps the action with the Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, also available on HBO Max. Radio coverage for all three events is supplied by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. With drivers like Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love and Corey Day tightly bunched in the O’Reilly points standings, the Phoenix race could reshape the championship picture heading into the season’s final stretch.
