2026 NASCAR Chase Schedule: Every Race, Date, Start Time and TV Channel

The NASCAR regular season is over. Now the championship race begins.

Following a dramatic regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway, the 16-driver field for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase is set. What comes next is a 10-race run stretching from Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6 all the way to the championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8.

And there is plenty of variety packed between them.

The Chase opens with four consecutive races at Darlington, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol and Kansas before moving into an October stretch that includes Las Vegas, the Charlotte Roval, Phoenix and Talladega. Martinsville then serves as the penultimate stop before NASCAR crowns its 2026 Cup Series champion at Homestead.

Here is the complete 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase schedule, including every race, date, start time and television network.

Complete 2026 NASCAR Chase schedule

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase features 10 races across 10 tracks, beginning at Darlington Raceway and ending with the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Sunday, Sept. 6: Cook Out Southern 500
- Track: Darlington Raceway
Sunday, Sept. 13: Enjoy Illinois 300
- Track: World Wide Technology Raceway
Saturday, Sept. 19: Bass Pro Shops Night Race
- Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Sunday, Sept. 27: Hollywood Casino 400
Sunday, Oct. 4: South Point 400
- Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, Oct. 11: Bank of America 400
- Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sunday, Oct. 18: Freeway Insurance 500
Sunday, Oct. 25: YellaWood 500
- Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, Nov. 1: Xfinity 500
- Track: Martinsville Speedway
Sunday, Nov. 8: NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
- Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway

All 10 Chase races are also scheduled to stream on HBO Max, while MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide radio coverage.

When does the 2026 NASCAR Chase start?

The 2026 NASCAR Chase begins Sunday, Sept. 6, at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500.

There may not be a more appropriate place to begin a championship run.

Darlington’s abrasive surface, narrow racing groove and 500-mile distance have long made the Southern 500 one of the most demanding races on the Cup schedule. This year, every mistake carries considerably more weight with NASCAR’s championship contenders immediately thrown into one of the season’s toughest events.

The opening month doesn’t get much easier.

After Darlington comes World Wide Technology Raceway on Sept. 13, followed by the Bristol night race six days later. Kansas closes September before the Chase moves into its six-race closing stretch in October and November.

Talladega and Martinsville set up the championship finale

If the opening half of the Chase is about establishing championship position, the closing weeks offer almost no room to relax.

Phoenix comes on Oct. 18 before the series heads directly to Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 25. The unpredictable nature of drafting races makes Talladega an obvious wild card at a point when every position could have championship implications.

One week later, NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500.

That leaves Homestead-Miami as the final stop.

After Phoenix hosted NASCAR’s championship weekend from 2020 through 2025, the title race returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026. The 1.5-mile South Florida track previously hosted the Cup Series season finale from 2002 through 2019.

This time, NASCAR heads back to Homestead with a champion to crown.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, bringing the 10-race Chase and the entire Cup season to an end.

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