Nearly a yr in the past, Chase Elliott began off 2025 with a bang. The 8-time Most Standard Driver of clinched the NASCAR Conflict victory. He led 171 of 200 laps, giving Hendrick Motorsports its eighth victory within the exhibition race. Whereas it was one other trophy for the workforce, it additionally marked a win when it comes to fan reputation. A number of causes contributed to this, certainly one of which is thrilling followers once more for 2026.
NASCAR Conflict schedule drops
“The entrants shall be cut up into three follow teams, with every group getting three follow periods. Every competitor’s quickest lap from their ultimate follow session will decide the beginning lineup for all 4 25-lap warmth races. The follow teams are assigned primarily based on 2025 proprietor factors, beginning with defending champion Kyle Larson in Group 3, then Chase Briscoe in Group 1, then William Byron, Christopher Bell, and so forth,” NASCAR wrote on its official web site.
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1st of February is just a few days away, and so is the 2026 NASCAR Conflict race on the . As talked about, the follow periods will precede the warmth races. With solely green-flag laps counting in every warmth and no extra time in play, drivers will depend on pace to advance. The highest 5 finishers in every warmth will advance to Sunday night time’s 200-lap characteristic occasion.
Those that don’t advance can have yet one more likelihood to advance courtesy of a 75-lap Final Probability Qualifier, or LCQ. The highest two finishers within the LCQ will advance to the characteristic race, beginning twenty first and twenty second, respectively. The twenty third and ultimate beginning place will go to the best ending driver of 2025 who didn’t already switch into the Conflict.
This format is for an already in style occasion. In 2025, the Conflict race got here to Bowman Grey, a racetrack unused by the Cup Sequence since 1971. And the outcomes had been thrilling – NASCAR followers from 44 states, 5 international locations, and three continents purchased tickets to the 17,000-seat enviornment. From constructing a rowdy environment to loudly cheering or booing for the drivers, the crowds made the present unbeatable.
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And the identical crowds are already getting into the joys, as followers overvalued the occasion on social media.
A refrain of cheers in the neighborhood
The beginning of 2026 ushers in a brand new period for NASCAR. A variety of massive adjustments shall be carried out, starting from a tweaked championship format to elevated horsepower. With the overwhelming positivity for these adjustments, one fan identified what didn’t require change – the Conflict format. “Don’t repair whats not damaged. I had zero situation with the format final yr from what I may bear in mind. I’m simply excited to get these vehicles again on monitor!”
A number of controversies over race finishes have unfolded up to now. These had been primarily on account of premature cautions or green-white-checkered finishes. So one fan appreciated an element of the Conflict: “Actually just like the format, particularly the ‘solely inexperienced flag laps rely’. Reveals us that it’s on the desk and useable..”
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Nevertheless, just a little doubt crept into the feedback as properly. The 2025 Conflict race, whereas thrilling within the intently sure confines of Bowman Grey, was not not like one other Subsequent-Gen automotive race. “Wasn’t there like no passing final yr? In that case right here’s to hoping it’s higher. On prime of that, the climate might be going to be within the 30s-40s. We have to go to a 1.5 mile someplace heat.” But a constructive reminiscence additionally floated: “The warmth races had been insane final yr.”
Any individual needed a balanced emphasis on the qualifying occasions. They primarily targeted on the Final Probability Qualifier, as that could be essentially the most thrilling build-up. “I’d prefer to see solely 4 vehicles from every warmth race advance. After which these spots added to the LCQ. I believe having 6 out to twenty make it on a 75 lap race would then make the center race just a little higher.”
Clearly, all fingers are on deck for an exhilarating race. We are able to solely rely down the times and await a bash on the Conflict.
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