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No Race Today? What You Missed And The 5 Must-Know Facts About The Rebranded 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series

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The short answer is no, there is no NASCAR Xfinity Series race scheduled for today, December 22, 2025. The high-octane 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season has officially concluded, culminating in a thrilling Championship Race in November. As the series enters its brief off-season, the focus immediately shifts to the massive changes and fresh start awaiting the teams and drivers in the 2026 season, including a major series rebrand and the release of the new schedule.

The 2025 season delivered on its promise of intense competition, crowning a new champion and setting the stage for one of the most anticipated off-seasons in recent memory. Fans eager for the roar of the engines will have to wait until early 2026, but the newly released schedule and the recap of the dramatic 2025 championship battle provide plenty to discuss until the green flag drops again.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season Recap and Champion Biography

The 2025 season was a landmark year for the Xfinity Series, featuring fierce competition, breakout rookie performances, and a dramatic conclusion at Phoenix Raceway. The season saw the rise of a new generation of talent challenging established veterans in the second-tier NASCAR series.

2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion: Jesse Love

Full Name: Jesse Love
Date of Birth: January 14, 2005
Hometown: Menlo Park, California
2025 Team: Richard Childress Racing (RCR)
Car Number: No. 2
Career Highlights: 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, ARCA Menards Series Champion (2020, 2021), youngest-ever ARCA West Series Champion (2020).
Championship Victory: Love secured the title at Phoenix Raceway, passing his rival Connor Zilisch with just 24 laps remaining in the Championship 4 race.

Key 2025 Season Standings and Entities

The 2025 season was defined by the battle between established stars and a new wave of rookie phenoms. The Championship 4 race in Phoenix was a classic, featuring four of the series' top performers:

  • Jesse Love (Champion): The RCR driver finished the season with the coveted title, capping off a breakout rookie year.
  • Connor Zilisch (Runner-Up): The JR Motorsports rookie was the story of the year, winning the 2025 Regular Season Championship and finishing second in the final standings.
  • Justin Allgaier: The veteran driver for JR Motorsports, and the defending 2024 Series Champion, was a consistent threat throughout the playoffs.
  • Carson Kvapil: Another rookie sensation, Kvapil secured his spot in the Championship 4, showcasing the depth of new talent in the series.

Other notable drivers and teams who were major players in the 2025 campaign included Brandon Jones, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Aric Almirola, who all competed fiercely for Joe Gibbs Racing and JR Motorsports.

The Playoff Format Explained: How The Xfinity Champion is Crowned

The NASCAR Xfinity Series utilizes an intense, high-stakes playoff system that determines the season champion over the final seven races of the year. Understanding this format is crucial for any fan looking forward to the 2026 season.

The playoff system begins after the first 26 races of the Regular Season. A total of twelve drivers qualify for the playoffs, primarily by winning a race during the regular season, or by accumulating the most points if there are fewer than 12 unique winners.

The Three Playoff Rounds

The Xfinity Playoffs are structured into three distinct rounds, with drivers competing to advance and avoid elimination.

  1. Round of 12 (3 Races): Twelve eligible drivers compete. At the end of the third race, the four drivers with the lowest point totals (who have not won a race in this round) are eliminated from championship contention.
  2. Round of 8 (3 Races): The remaining eight drivers compete. Similar to the previous round, a win automatically advances a driver. After the third race, the four lowest-ranked drivers are eliminated.
  3. Championship 4 (1 Race): The final four remaining drivers compete in a single, winner-take-all race at the season finale (Phoenix Raceway). The driver who finishes highest among the Championship 4 is crowned the NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.

The playoff system is designed to reward both consistency (through points) and performance (through race wins), ensuring a dramatic conclusion to the season. The 2025 season saw Jesse Love secure his title in this final, high-pressure event.

The 2026 Season Outlook: A New Name and Key Dates

While the 2025 season has just wrapped up, the biggest news for the future of the series is the official rebranding for the 2026 season. This major shift provides a fresh identity and a new era for the second-tier series, which will now be known as the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

This rebrand, along with the continuation of The CW as the exclusive broadcaster, marks a significant commercial and media evolution for the series, promising increased visibility and fan engagement for the new year.

5 Must-Know Facts About The 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

For fans asking "When is the next race?" all eyes are now on the official 2026 schedule, which kicks off the new season with a familiar, high-speed venue.

  1. New Series Name: The Xfinity Series will officially be known as the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, a major change for the sport.
  2. Season Opener Date: The 2026 season will begin on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  3. Season Opener Location: The traditional starting point for the series, the season will kick off at the legendary Daytona International Speedway.
  4. Exclusive Broadcast Partner: All races will be exclusively televised by The CW network, continuing their coverage from the 2025 season.
  5. Early Key Race Dates: Other early-season highlights include the race at EchoPark on February 21 and the LiUNA NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The new schedule promises a thrilling mix of short tracks, road courses, and superspeedways, maintaining the variety that makes the Xfinity Series a premier proving ground for young talent.

Topical Authority Entities and LSI Keywords for NASCAR Xfinity

To fully understand the world of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, it is important to be familiar with the key entities, tracks, and technical terms that define the competition. This knowledge will enhance your viewing experience for the upcoming 2026 season.

Key Tracks and Venues

The Xfinity Series visits a diverse set of tracks, each presenting unique challenges to the drivers and teams. The 2026 schedule will feature many of these iconic venues:

  • Daytona International Speedway (Superspeedway)
  • Phoenix Raceway (Championship Finale)
  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  • Pocono Raceway
  • Martinsville Speedway (Short Track)
  • Portland International Raceway (Road Course)
  • Iowa Speedway
  • Homestead-Miami Speedway

Essential Technical & Format Terms

The sport relies on specific terminology to describe the cars, races, and format:

  • Stage Racing: Races are divided into three stages, with points awarded to the top 10 finishers in the first two stages.
  • Playoff Points: Bonus points earned for winning a race or a stage, which carry over into the playoffs.
  • Rookie of the Year: An annual award for the top-performing first-year driver (Connor Zilisch was a major contender in 2025).
  • The CW: The exclusive television broadcast partner for the series.
  • Next Gen Car: While the Xfinity Series uses a different chassis, discussions about the Next Gen car often influence the direction of all NASCAR series.
  • Car Owners: Major owners like Dale Earnhardt Jr. (JR Motorsports) and Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) are central to the series' success.

While the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror and there is no race today, the anticipation for the newly renamed 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is already building. The new season will bring fresh rivalries, new champions, and the same adrenaline-pumping action that fans expect, starting on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Daytona. Be sure to mark your calendars!

No Race Today? What You Missed and The 5 Must-Know Facts About The Rebranded 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series
nascar xfinity race today
nascar xfinity race today

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