CONCORD, N.C. – The calendar turned over to a new year last week and that could only mean one thing: racing is coming. And soon.
Specifically, the Super Bowl of NASCAR, the DAYTONA 500, now looms on the horizon and is quickly approaching, just over a month away.
Speedweek, as it’s now referred to, serves as an annual spring rite of passage and will again feature four races and a week’s worth of practices and qualifying as well with the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Series (NOAPS) and NASCAR Cup Series all beginning their respective seasons.
RELATED: Check out all of Hendrick Motorsports' 2026 paint schemes right here!
Of course, it all culminates with the 68th running of the Great American Race, set for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. William Byron enters as the back-to-back defending champion of the DAYTONA 500. His victory in 2025 gave Hendrick Motorsports 10, the most in the history of the event.
Things get underway on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the first practice and pole qualifying in the Cup Series and following that are four packed days full of racing.
Here’s a look at how the 2026 Speedweek schedule sets up:
RELATED: See photos from the "Days of Thunder" shoot featuring Tom Cruise, Rick Hendrick
How many days until the DAYTONA 500?
Wednesday, Feb. 11
- 10 a.m. – Cup Series practice
- 8:15 p.m. – Cup Series pole qualifying
RELATED: Jeff Gordon reflects on successful 2025, looks to Hendrick Motorsports future
Thursday, Feb. 12
- 4 p.m. – ARCA Series practice
- 5 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice
- 7 – Cup Series, Duel at Daytona 1
- 8:45 (approx.) – Cup Series, Duel at Daytona 2
Friday, Feb. 13
- 1:30 – ARCA Series qualifying
- 3 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying
- 4:30 p.m. – NOAPS practice
- 5:35 – Cup Series practice
- 7:30 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race
RELATED: Hendrick Motorsports pit department comes off big 2025
Saturday, Feb. 14
- 10 a.m. – NOAPS practice
- Noon – ARCA Series race
- 3 – Cup Series practice
- 5 – NOAPS race
Sunday, Feb. 15
- 2:30 p.m. – Cup Series, DAYTONA 500