NASCAR is finally on a well-deserved break following 28 consecutive weeks of racing.
The Cup Series raced in 28 events over those 28 weeks (27 points, 1 non-points event) leading to the Nov. 2 NASCAR Cup Series Championship race season finale at Phoenix.
Cup teams’ last weekend off was the weekend of April 20, between races at Bristol and Talladega.
NASCAR now has 12 weeks until the 2026 season unofficially begins with the Cook Out Clash on Feb. 1.
No. The 2025 NASCAR season concluded on Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race.
Ryan Blaney claimed the win at Phoenix in the season finale on Nov. 2, passing Brad Keselowski on the final turn of the season for his fourth win of the year.
But Kyle Larson earned his second NASCAR Cup Series championship after a late-race strategy call and overtime restart propelled him to a third-place finish, beating out Denny Hamlin for the title. Hamlin had led 208 laps and enjoyed a comfortable lead before a caution with 3 laps to go.
The next NASCAR Cup Series event is the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026.
The first points race of the 2026 season, as usual, is the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
All dates in 2026
Notable dates
Feb. 1: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray StadiumFeb. 12: Daytona 500 qualifying races at Daytona International SpeedwayFeb. 15: Daytona 500 at Daytona International SpeedwayApril 12: Food City 500 at Bristol Motor SpeedwayMay 17: NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor SpeedwayMay 24: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor SpeedwayMay 31: Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville SuperspeedwayJune 21: NASCAR Cup Series debut at San Diego street courseJuly 19: Window World 400 points race at North Wilkesboro SpeedwayJuly 26: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySept. 6: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington RacewaySept. 19: Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor SpeedwayNov. 8: NASCAR Cup Series finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway