NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 in Richmond, Va., this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network; Countdown to Green Gets Underway at 7 p.m. ET

Bowman Gray and Daytona kick off the season, and they will lead into other familiar races. RACER understands that the first five races of the 2026 season will be the same five that began the ’25 season. Those races would be Daytona, Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

On the other side of the coin, Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson were among the big winners who took advantage of an old rule to add to their win total.

As NASCAR’s premier series returns Saturday night to Richmond, Virginia, with two races remaining in the regular season and three open slots in the playoffs, did Dillon’s win establish the new boundary of what’s permissible in pushing for a victory that guarantees a berth in the 10-race run to the title?

As we the wait for the official 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is nearing its end, details continue to trickle out about next year's potential changes through