A New Era at Dover
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series All‑Star Race will make its first appearance at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17, bringing a fresh competition format to the 1‑mile concrete oval. The event is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET, setting the stage for a weekend of high‑octane racing.
Two 75‑lap shootouts will determine the drivers who advance to the final 200‑lap race, where the champion will collect $1 million and earn an automatic berth in next year’s All‑Star event. The new structure adds strategic depth, as teams must balance aggression with preservation of equipment.
Qualifying on May 16 set the starting order for the opening segment, with Denny Hamlin taking the pole position ahead of Brad Keselowski. Erik Jones and a deep field of competitors will follow, while the lineup for the second shootout will be an inversion of the top 26 from the first segment.
The race will showcase a who’s‑who of contemporary NASCAR talent, including 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 Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger.
Broadcast coverage will be anchored by FS1, which will begin its pre‑race show at noon ET. Fans can also stream the action on the Fox Sports website, Fox One, the Fox Sports app, HBO Max and Fubo, ensuring multiple ways to watch the excitement unfold.
Beyond the on‑track competition, the event highlights partnerships with major automotive brands. Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet will be prominently featured, reflecting their deep involvement in the sport.
Dover, Delaware, will welcome thousands of visitors, and local officials anticipate a substantial economic impact from the weekend’s activities, underscoring the race’s significance for the region.