The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season has officially reached its halfway point following the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but fans continue searching for the full schedule as the race toward the postseason intensifies.
With a mix of traditional ovals, returning venues and high-stakes late-season races, the second half of the calendar will ultimately determine this year’s champion.
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Here’s a complete look at the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, including every remaining race and the playoff stretch — “The Chase.”
Final Race of May
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May 31 — Cracker Barrel 400 (Nashville Superspeedway)
Remaining 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
JUNE
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June 14 — Great American Getaway 400 (Pocono Raceway)
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June 21 — Anduril 250 (Naval Base Coronado)
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June 28 — Toyota / Save Mart 350 (Sonoma Raceway)
JULY
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July 5 — eero 400 (Chicagoland Speedway)
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July 12 — Quaker State 400 (Atlanta Motor Speedway)
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July 19 — Window World 450 (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
AUGUST
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Aug. 9 — Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol (Iowa Speedway)
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Aug. 15 — Cook Out 400 (Richmond Raceway)
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Aug. 29 — Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Daytona International Speedway)
NASCAR Playoffs 2026: ‘The Chase’ Schedule
The NASCAR Cup Series postseason — officially labeled as “The Chase” — begins in September and runs through the championship race in November.
SEPTEMBER
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Sept. 6 — Cook Out Southern 500 (Darlington Raceway)
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Sept. 19 — Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Bristol Motor Speedway)
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Sept. 27 — Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas Speedway)
OCTOBER
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Oct. 4 — South Point 400 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway)
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Oct. 11 — Bank of America 400 (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
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Oct. 25 — YellaWood 500 (Talladega Superspeedway)
NOVEMBER
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Nov. 1 — Xfinity 500 (Martinsville Speedway)
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Nov. 8 — NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
Why the Second Half of the NASCAR Season Matters
With the regular season winding down, every race carries increased importance.
Drivers are battling for:
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Final postseason positioning
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Stage points and momentum
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A chance to lock into the playoff field
The regular-season finale at Daytona remains one of the most unpredictable races on the calendar, often reshaping the field heading into The Chase.
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What Comes Next After Charlotte
Following the Coca-Cola 600, the Cup Series shifts into one of its most diverse stretches of the season.
From the return to Chicagoland Speedway to road-course racing at Sonoma and the high-speed chaos of Daytona, the schedule tests every aspect of a driver’s skill set.
That variety is what makes the NASCAR season so compelling — and why the second half consistently delivers some of its biggest moments.
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