NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series | The Charlotte Mercury

What Is the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series?

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is NASCAR’s second-tier national touring series. It carried the Xfinity Series name through 2025 and adopted the O’Reilly Auto Parts title in 2026.

The series combines full-time championship teams, developing drivers, veteran series regulars and event-specific entries. A driver can compete for more than one organization during a season.

2026 Championship Structure

The 2026 season contains 33 races:

Races 1–24: regular season
Race 24: Daytona International Speedway on August 28
Races 25–33: the nine-race Chase
Chase field: 12 drivers
Championship finale: Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 7

Chase Tracks

The Chase visits Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s current event information places the 2026 O’Reilly race on the 1.5-mile oval.

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Coverage (11 articles)

Corey Day Wins Las Vegas After Late Duel With Kvapil

John Speedway·October 6, 2026

Corey Day led 136 of 201 laps from the pole, then had to take the lead back from Carson Kvapil twice in the last 12. Sheldon Creed kept the Chase lead, now 19 points over Kvapil, after Justin Allgaier was caught in an early crash.

Jesse Love Won at Gateway. Justin Allgaier Finished 13th and Lost the Points Lead by Three.

Jack Beckett·September 13, 2026

Jesse Love took the lead with fifteen laps to go and won the Nu Way 225 at World Wide Technology Raceway, his first victory of 2026. Sheldon Creed finished second and left St. Louis leading the O'Reilly Series Chase by three points over Justin Allgaier, who has won six races this season to Creed's two.

Christopher Bell Ended a 33-Race Winless Streak by Winning the Southern 500.

Jack Beckett·September 7, 2026

Bell won the Cook Out Southern 500 by 1.038 seconds over Ty Gibbs, his first victory in 33 races and the end of a season with seven runner-up finishes. His crew gave away the lead on a stop after he had won the second segment, and he took it back with 12 laps to go. Ty Gibbs finished second after starting 28th.

Justin Allgaier Led the O'Reilly Series by 229 Points. The Reset Left Him 25, at a Track Where He Has Never Won in the Fall.

Jack Beckett·September 5, 2026

Justin Allgaier ended the regular season 229 points clear. The Chase reset left him 25 ahead of teammate Carson Kvapil going into Saturday's Fleetio 200 at Darlington, where Allgaier has four spring wins and none in the fall.

The O'Reilly Series Chase Opens at Darlington Saturday Night: The Race, the Field and the Track

Jack Beckett·September 5, 2026

The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series opens its first Chase on Saturday night at Darlington. The 12 drivers, the reset points, the track history, the tire and the schedule.

Ryan Sieg Won His First Race in 424 Starts. It Still Wasn't Enough to Make the Chase.

Jack Beckett·August 29, 2026

Sieg led two laps at Daytona, the last two of the race. He arrived holding the series record for most runner-up finishes without a win, and he leaves the regular season 15th in points, outside the Chase.

Carson Kvapil Spent 63 Starts Getting Close. Now He Only Needs the Last Restart.

Jack Beckett·August 10, 2026

Kvapil led only nine laps at Iowa. They were the last nine, and his second consecutive win showed what 63 winless starts had built.

Carson Kvapil Had Never Won a Race. On Saturday His Own Team Finished Second, Third and Fourth.

Jack Beckett·July 26, 2026

Kvapil came in tied for the most runner-up finishes without a win in series history. He led the last 22 laps at Indianapolis to end it, and JR Motorsports took the next three spots behind him.

Justin Allgaier wins a wreck-filled Focused Health 250 at Atlanta, pushing his O'Reilly Series lead to 240

Jack Beckett·July 13, 2026

Justin Allgaier came from 16th through 13 cautions and three red flags to win the Focused Health 250 at Atlanta, his sixth O'Reilly Series win of the season. He now leads the championship by 240 points.

Austin Hill Can Break Kevin Harvick's Atlanta Record in His Home State on Saturday

Jack Beckett·July 10, 2026

Austin Hill has five wins at Atlanta, tied with Kevin Harvick for the most in NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series history. On Saturday, in his home state, he can break the tie. Justin Allgaier's 195-point lead looks safe, but his form has quietly cooled over the last month.

Justin Allgaier Has Five Wins and the Points Lead. The One Thing Missing Is a Road Course, and They're About to Run Out.

John Speedway·June 27, 2026

Justin Allgaier has five wins, the points lead, and the best average finish in the O'Reilly Series. The one thing he hasn't done is win a road course, and Saturday's Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma is the last one of the season.

What Is the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series?

2026 Championship Structure

Chase Tracks

Explore

Coverage (11 articles)

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