- All-Star race heads to the “Monster Mile,” featuring a million-dollar prize.
- Weekend includes Truck, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Cup Series action.
- Past champions and recent winners will face off in multi-segment sprint format.
The wait is finally over. NASCAR’s annual All-Star spectacle is around the corner. Unlike last year, this time the spotlight shifts to one of stock car racing’s most unforgiving stages, Dover Motor Speedway.
Known as the “Monster Mile,” the one-mile oval off Delaware has become infamous for its unforgiving nature. As a matter of fact, its steep concrete banking, abrasive tarmac, and brutally tight racing groove make it one of the most physically demanding tracks on the calendar.
Now, add the no-points, all-reward chaos of All-Star Weekend into the mix, and NASCAR Nation could be in for one of the most unpredictable showcases of the 2026 NASCAR season.
With three straight days of action featuring the Craftsman Truck Series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Cup Series qualifying, the fan-favorite Pit Crew Challenge, and Sunday’s million-dollar All-Star showdown, Dover is set to become the center of the racing world this weekend.
TV schedule, start times, and where to watch NASCAR’s Dover All-Star Weekend
The action begins on Friday, May 15, with the truckers setting the tone for the weekend. Truck practice gets underway at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 1:40 p.m. ET. Following which, the Cup Series pit-road qualifying entry and exit practice gets underway at 3 p.m. ET, airing on FS2, FOX ONE, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Furthermore, Friday’s headline event, the ECOSAVE 200, is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX ONE, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As usual, the race will run 45-45-110 laps, with teams allotted four tire sets.
However, on Saturday, May 16, the spotlight shifts to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, which opens with practice at 9:30 a.m. ET and qualifying at 10:35 a.m. ET, both streaming via the CW App. Then comes one of the weekend’s biggest events: Cup Series All-Star qualifying and the All-Star Pit Crew Challenge at noon (12 p.m.) ET, broadcast on FS1, FOX ONE, MRN, and SiriusXM.
Later that afternoon, the BetRivers 200 (45-45-110 laps) takes center stage at 4 p.m. ET, with The CW broadcasting, while PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR provide radio coverage. Sunday, May 17, is when the main event finally arrives.
Coverage begins with NASCAR RaceDay at noon ET on FS1, before the NASCAR All-Star Race officially goes green at 1 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch the action live on FS1 and the network’s official app (FOX One), while radio coverage will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The race format will feature 75 laps, another 75-lap segment, then a field cut to 26 cars before the final 200-lap sprint to decide the winner.
Now, coming to the track conditions, the weather, at least for now, appears cooperative. Forecasts show temperatures climbing from the 70s on Friday into the 90s by Sunday, with only a minimal rain threat throughout the weekend. That said, the heat could become a major factor on Dover’s physically punishing concrete layout.
What’s at stake at Monster Mile?
Beyond the prestige of winning NASCAR’s annual exhibition showcase, Dover’s All-Star Weekend offers serious financial rewards.
As reported by Bob Pockrass, the Cup Series All-Star Race purse stands at $3,093,000, making Sunday’s showdown one of the richest non-points-paying events on the schedule. Meanwhile, Saturday���s BetRivers 200 has a purse of $1,653,590 for grabs, while Friday’s ECOSAVE 200 offers $789,700.
Now, drivers eligible for Sunday’s All-Star Race include every 2025 and 2026 Cup Series race winner, former All-Star winners still competing full-time, and past Cup Series champions.
Meaning stars like Kyle Larson (2019, 2021, 2023 All-Star winner), Joey Logano (2016, 2024), Christopher Bell (2025), Ryan Blaney (2022), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Busch (2017), and Denny Hamlin (2015) will all be among the favorites heading into Dover.
Larson, the reigning Cup Series champion, enters as the active benchmark with three All-Star victories, while three-time NCS title-winner Logano owns two, and Bell returns as the defending winner after his 2025 triumph.
That said, fan voting remains one of the weekend’s biggest storylines. Moreover, one additional driver will earn a coveted All-Star Race berth through the fan vote, and as of the latest update, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, and Connor Zilisch are leading the battle for that final spot.
Then there is Dover itself. Unlike the usual trips to drafting tracks or regular intermediates, the Monster Mile hinges on raw precision. The field must balance aggression with patience, manage tire wear during long green-flag runs, all while avoiding even the slightest misstep against the concrete walls.
The bottom line is, at a place where mistakes are magnified, and the stakes are purely about pride, money, and bragging rights, NASCAR’s best have every reason to push harder than usual.
