A $1 million prize is on the line in today’s new-look NASCAR All-Star Race.
The annual race will be held at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware for the first time in its 42-year history and it will also feature a new format that blends high-stakes exhibition gimmicks with a more classic racing style. In a major change from past years, all 36 cars on the grid will start the race.
Denny Hamlin, a two-time Cup Series runner-up, will start in pole position for the second All-Star Race of his career in 2015. He went on to win the 2025 All-Star Race from pole.
nascar all-star race 2026: what to know
- When: May 17, 1 p.m. ET
- Where: Dover Motor Speedway (Dover, Delaware)
- Channel: FS1
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
For everything you need to know about the All-Star Race, from start time and channel to how the new racing format will work, keep reading.
NASCAR All-Star Race start time
The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET today, May 17.
What channel is the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race on?
The NASCAR All-Star Race will be on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
How to watch the NASCAR All-Star Race for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the NASCAR All-Star Race for free. One option we love is DIRECTV, which comes with five days free.
FS1 is included in DIRECTV’s Choice package, which is currently $10 off your first three months after the free trial. Following the free trial and three month at $84.99, the Choice package costs $94.99/month.
You can also stream the NASCAR All-Star Race for free with Fubo TV’s Sports + News package ($45.99 for your first month), which comes with a five day free trial and includes FS1.
NASCAR All-Star Race 2026 format
Based on qualifying results, all 36 cars start the race. The first segment is 75 laps long with no competition caution yellow flags.
After Segment 1, the top 26 will be inverted for the next 75-lap segment. The driver who won Segment 1 restarts at 26th, and the 26th-place finisher inherits pole position. Cars from 27th through 36th keep their exact running positions.
Segment 3, also known as the money round, cuts the field from 36 to 26 cars.
19 drivers are automatically locked in regardless of their segment finishes (this group is made up of Cup race winners from 2025–2026, past All-Star winners, and former Cup champions); six spots are given to the drivers left who have the lowest combined average finish between Segment 1 and Segment 2); and one final spot is awarded to the winner of the All-Star Fan Vote.
From there, the remaining 26 drivers will race for 200 laps — with a competition caution yellow flag around the 75th lap to bunch up the field. The winner will take home the $1 million prize.
2026 NASCAR All-Star Race starting lineup
- Denny Hamlin
- Brad Keselowski
- Erik Jones
- Ross Chastain
- William Byron
- Christopher Bell
- Bubba Wallace
- Joey Logano
- Ty Gibbs
- Austin Cindric
- Kyle Busch
- Alex Bowman
- Noah Gragson
- Tyler Reddick
- Ty Dillon
- Chase Briscoe
- Austin Dillon
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Josh Berry
- Todd Gilliland
- Riley Herbst
- Cole Custer
- Cody Ware
- Carson Hocevar
- Zane Smith
- Ryan Preece
- Connor Zilisch
- Ryan Blaney
- Kyle Larson
- Michael McDowell
- Chase Elliott
- Chris Buescher
- Daniel Suárez
- A.J. Allmendinger
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- John Hunter Nemechek
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
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