Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the first NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
The 2026 NASCAR season will begin this weekend with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026 (that is, assuming severe winter weather doesn't impact the track). The new NASCAR season brings with it a new(ish) format, The Chase, replacing the multi-round playoff format that's been used since 2014. The Chase reconsiders how the top drivers in the regular season are evaluated and eligible for postseason eligibility; the top 16 drivers in the points standings after the first 26 races of the season will make the playoff field, regardless of how many wins each has. This format has been used before and will certainly make things interesting this season. Are you ready for the first race?
Here's everything you need to know about the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and how to watch every other 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race this season.
How to watch the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium:
Dates: Feb. 1, 2026
Location: Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
Channel: Fox, qualifying races on FS1
Streaming:DirecTV, Fox One, HBO Max (Driver-cam), and more
When is the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium?
The Cook Out Clash takes place on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
What channel is NASCAR's Cook Out Clash on?
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is the first NASCAR race of the season. The race will be available live on Fox. You can also watch qualifying races on Saturday on FS1, and an alternate driver-cam will also be available to stream live on HBO Max.
NASCAR Cook Out Clash weekend TV schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 31
Cook Out Clash Practice and Qualifying, 6:10 p.m. (FS1)
Cook Out Clash Heat Races, 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, Feb. 1
Cook Out Clash Last Chance Qualifying, 6 p.m. (Fox)
Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, 8:00 p.m. (Fox, HBO Max)
How to watch NASCAR in 2026 without cable:
To watch every single race of the 2026 NASCAR season, you'll need a couple of different streaming services. You can stream channels like NBC, USA, Fox, FS1, TNT, and truTV on streaming platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, which will get you access to the majority of this year's races, but you'll also need a Prime Video subscription if you want to catch the Coca Cola 600, the Cracker Barrel 400, FireKeepers Casino 400, NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono and the Anduril 250. Races airing on NBC and USA will also be available to stream on Peacock, and races airing on Fox and FS1 will be streaming on Fox One. And once again, HBO Max will also be showing alternate driver-cam angles at every race this season.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule:
Here are the races that make up the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. (All times Eastern)
Feb. 1, 2026: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Fox, HBO Max)
Feb. 15, 2026: Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)
Feb. 22, 2026: Autotrader 400, EchoPark Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)
March 1, 2026: DuraMax Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas (Fox, HBO Max)
March 8, 2026: Straight Talk Wireless 500, Phoenix Raceway (FS1, HBO Max)
March 15, 2026: Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)
March 22, 2026: Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway (FS1, HBO Max)
March 29, 2026: Cook Out 400, Martinsville Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)
April 12, 2026: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)
April 19, 2026: AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)
April 26, 2026: Jack Link's 500, Talladega Superspeedway (Fox, HBO Max)
May 3, 2026: Wurth 400 presented by Liqui Moly, Texas Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)
May 10, 2026: Go Bowling at the Glen, Watkins Glen International (FS1, HBO Max)
May 17, 2026: NASCAR All-Star Race, Dover Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)
May 24, 2026: Coca Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)
May 31, 2026: Cracker Barrel 400, Nashville Superspeedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)
June 7, 2026: Firekeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)
June 14, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono, Pocono Raceway (Prime Video, HBO Max)
June 21, 2026: Anduril 250, Naval Base Coronado (Prime Video, HBO Max)
June 28, 2026: Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)
July 5, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Chicagoland, Chicagoland Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)
July 12, 2026: Quaker State 400 Available At Walmart, EchoPark Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)
July 19, 2026: Window World 400, North Wilkesboro Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)
July 26, 2026: Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)
Aug. 9, 2026: Iowa Corn 350 Powered By Ethanol, Iowa Speedway (USA, HBO Max)
Aug. 15, 2026: Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway (USA, HBO Max)
Aug. 23, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at New Hampshire, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)
Aug. 29, 2026: Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)
Sept. 6, 2026: Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway (USA, HBO Max)
Sept. 13, 2026: Enjoy Illinois 300, World Wide Technology Raceway (USA, HBO Max)
Sept. 19, 2026: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)
Sept. 27, 2026: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway (USA, HBO Max)
Oct. 4, 2026: South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)
Oct. 11, 2026: Bank of America ROVAL 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (USA, HBO Max)
Oct. 19, 2026: Freeway Insurance 500, Phoenix Raceway (USA, HBO Max)
Oct. 25, 2026: YellaWood 500, Talladega Superspeedway (NBC, HBO Max)
Nov. 1, 2026: Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)
Nov. 8, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Homestead-Miami Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)
More ways to watch the NASCAR season without cable this season:
Category: General Sports
