NASCAR Enjoy Illinois 300 Weekend Schedule: Practice, Qualifying, and Race Times

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase rolls into Madison, Illinois, this weekend for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, the second race of the 2026 NASCAR Playoffs following the opening round at Darlington. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will also be in action across the weekend, with their own race taking place on Saturday night before the Cup Series takes center stage on Sunday afternoon.

This will be the fifth edition of the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the fifth time the NextGen car has competed at the 1.25-mile egg-shaped asphalt oval in Madison.

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Defending race winner Denny Hamlin enters the weekend as the man to beat. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver captured last year’s race at WWT Raceway for his 59th career NASCAR Cup Series victory and will be looking to win back-to-back at a track that has clearly suited his driving style. Hamlin also leads the championship standings heading into the weekend.

Full Enjoy Illinois 300 Weekend Schedule

All times are Eastern:

Saturday, September 12:

• 1:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice

• 1:45 p.m. ET – Press Pass

• 2:05 p.m. ET – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying

• 3:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Practice

• 4:35 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying

• Post-NCS Qualifying – Press Pass

• 7:30 p.m. ET – Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog (NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race)

Sunday, September 13:

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• 3:00 p.m. ET – Enjoy Illinois 300 (NASCAR Cup Series Race)

Race Start Time

The Enjoy Illinois 300 is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 13. The 240-lap race is divided into three stages: Stage 1 ends on lap 45, Stage 2 ends on lap 140, and the final stage runs to lap 240.

Enjoy Illinois 300 Race Track: World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway is a 1.25-mile paved asphalt oval located in Madison, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, Missouri. The track features 11 degrees of banking in Turns 1 and 2, and 9 degrees in Turns 3 and 4. The egg-shaped layout tends to produce competitive racing with multiple grooves available, and as a Chase venue it carries added stakes this weekend, with every position mattering as the Playoffs field begins to take shape.

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The track hosted its first Cup Series race in 2022, where Joey Logano won the inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300. Since then, it has grown into one of the most popular newer events on the NASCAR calendar, selling out during each of its first four seasons and earning a permanent place in the postseason schedule.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.