- Texas hosts a stacked lineup of Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Truck series races.
- Total prize money has climbed across the board, led by $11.2 million Cup pool.
- Friday’s Truck race faces rain, while Sunday’s Cup main event expects clear skies.
After a rollercoaster ride at Talladega Superspeedway, the NASCAR bandwagon is heading west to Texas for this weekend’s extravaganza. Last year, Joey Logano outdueled Ross Chastain for his first win of the season here.
This time around, the stakes are just as clear, if not higher. The Cup Series returns with more than $11 million on the line, a stacked tripleheader schedule, and an intermediate track that hasn’t exactly made life easy for anyone lately.
From weather concerns early in the weekend to a clean Sunday forecast, the build-up alone feels like part of the show.
NASCAR Texas: Full schedule, start times, and TV info
The Texas weekend runs on a tight, three-day schedule, with all three national series sharing the spotlight.
Things kick off Friday with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, following an off week. As the practice and qualifying roll out earlier in the day (2.30 p.m. ET), the main event comes under the lights, with the green flag for the SpeedyCash.Com 250 set at 8:22 p.m. ET (7:22 p.m. CT).
Coverage will be on FOX Sports (FS1). With forecasts pointing toward cooler temperatures in the 50s and a decent chance of rain (75%) as per the National Weather Service (NWS), weather could be a factor early.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice and qualifying are also scheduled for the same day at 5 p.m. ET, with The CW Network streaming the session exclusively on its app.
Saturday shifts the focus to Andy’s Frozen Custard 340. After Cup practice and qualifying earlier in the day (12.30 p.m. ET), the O’Reilly race takes the green flag at 3:38 p.m. ET (2:38 p.m. CT), pre-race at 2.30 p.m. ET, airing on The CW. It’s a key slot in the weekend, midday conditions, evolving track grip, and a field that often delivers some of the most aggressive racing of the weekend.
Sunday is all about the NASCAR Cup Series, with pre-race coverage beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on FS1, leading into the main event, with the green flag scheduled for 3:43 p.m. ET (2:43 p.m. CT).
Like the Truck race, it’ll be broadcast on FOX Sports. Unlike Friday, though, the weather looks far more cooperative, with forecasts predicting clear skies and warmer temperatures in the 70s, which should give teams a more predictable track to work with.
For fans following along without a TV, streaming options are available through network apps and platforms tied to FOX and The CW. Meanwhile, radio coverage continues on Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network, offering a more traditional yet still immersive way to stay connected.
Across all three days, the format remains familiar, practice and qualifying sessions setting the stage, followed by races broken into stages that reward both consistency and late-race execution.
The Purse
Beyond the racing, the financial side of the Texas weekend quietly tells its own story. The headline figure belongs to the Cup Series, where the total purse for Sunday’s race stands at $11,233,037.
That marks a noticeable increase from last year’s payout, continuing a trend of gradual growth in race winnings. While the sanctioning body no longer breaks down individual earnings publicly, that total includes everything, from finishing positions to charter payouts, contingency awards, and contributions to the season-long points fund.
On the other hand, the support series offers its own incentives. The O’Reilly Series race carries a purse of $1,753,590, while the Truck Series has $789,700 up for grabs.
Chartered teams in the Cup Series benefit from a more stable share of the purse, thanks to guaranteed starting spots and structured payouts. Meanwhile, open teams have to operate with far less margin for error, relying heavily on race-day performance to secure their earnings.
Then there are the additional bonuses, including manufacturer incentives, sponsor contingencies, and performance-based payouts that rarely make headlines but play a big role in how teams approach each race.
Compared to last season, the financial stakes have ticked up across the board. The Cup Series purse has climbed from $11,055,250 to $11,233,037, an increase of roughly $180,000, while the Truck Series payout rises from $782,900 to $789,700.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series follows a similar trend, jumping from $1,651,939 to $1,753,590, adding just over $100,000 to the pot.
