NASCAR returns to the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, today with two national series events scheduled. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will headline the evening race with the Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog, taking place at 7:30 p.m. ET. The race will cover a distance of 180 laps and 225 miles on the 1.25-mile oval track.
NASCAR Coverage and Schedule
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series activities commence earlier in the day, with practice starting at 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. ET. Fans can view the practice and qualifying sessions through the CW app and ESPN Unlimited. Main race coverage will be available on The CW network, with NASCAR Countdown Live beginning at 7 p.m. ET to set the stage for the race.
The race will also be broadcasted via MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for fans preferring audio coverage. The CW’s broadcast team includes Adam Alexander, Jamie McMurray, and Parker Kligerman.
This race marks the second Chase event of the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Driver Sheldon Creed will enter the race after a victory in the previous Chase event at Darlington. A total of 36 cars are entered for this evening’s race, which is critical as drivers strive for points and advantageous standings before heading to the next round in Bristol.
Meanwhile, the NASCAR Cup Series will conduct practice and qualifying sessions at the World Wide Technology Raceway on the same day, with Cup Series racing scheduled for Sunday. Fans can catch these sessions on truTV and HBO Max, starting with practice at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 4:35 p.m. ET.
The Cup Series race, known as the Enjoy Illinois 300, will take place at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, broadcasted on USA Network. Pre-race coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. Denny Hamlin, the defending NASCAR Cup Series winner at this venue, is among the notable drivers participating, alongside Christopher Bell, who recently claimed victory at the Southern 500, the first race of the Cup Series Chase.
How to Watch
For viewers interested in today’s NASCAR events, several options are available. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race will be primarily aired on The CW, with additional streaming available on ESPN Unlimited. For fans wishing to follow the Cup Series, the practice and qualifying sessions can be viewed on truTV and HBO Max, while the actual race will be available on USA Network as well as on HBO Max.
The staggered schedule allows fans to engage with both series throughout the day, highlighted by the O’Reilly auto race in the evening.
Why It Matters
This weekend’s events are pivotal for drivers in both series as they battle for crucial points in their respective championships. Performance at the World Wide Technology Raceway will significantly impact the standings as teams strategize for the upcoming races in the Chase calendar.
