What Happened to NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series?
The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is the current designation for NASCAR's secondary national stock car racing division, which began on January 1, 2026. Formerly known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts assumed title sponsorship from Comcast's Xfinity brand as part of a multi-year agreement. The series serves as a crucial proving ground for aspiring drivers aiming for the Cup Series, featuring a new Chase playoff format and exclusive broadcasting on The CW Network as of 2026.
Quick Answer
The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is the current name for NASCAR's second-tier national stock car racing division, which officially debuted on January 1, 2026. This series was previously known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2015 to 2025. O'Reilly Auto Parts took over as the title sponsor from Comcast's Xfinity brand through a multi-year partnership with NASCAR. The 2026 season introduced a revised Chase playoff format and is exclusively broadcast on The CW Network, showcasing future stars of the sport.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Series Inaugurated as Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series
The series began its operations as NASCAR's second national division, initially sponsored by Budweiser.
Renamed NASCAR Busch Grand National Series
Anheuser-Busch switched its sponsorship to its Busch Beer brand, leading to the series being renamed the Busch Grand National Series.
Became NASCAR Busch Series
The 'Grand National' part of the title was dropped as part of a NASCAR brand identity initiative, simplifying the name to the NASCAR Busch Series.
Renamed NASCAR Nationwide Series
Nationwide Insurance took over as the title sponsor from Anheuser-Busch, marking another significant name change for the series.
Became NASCAR Xfinity Series
Comcast's Xfinity brand assumed title sponsorship, leading to the series being known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series for an 11-year tenure.
The CW Network Broadcast Deal Accelerated
NASCAR announced that The CW Network's exclusive broadcast deal for the series, originally set for 2025, would begin a year early to cover the final eight races of the 2024 season.
O'Reilly Auto Parts Announced as New Title Sponsor
NASCAR and O'Reilly Auto Parts announced a multi-year partnership, making O'Reilly Auto Parts the new title sponsor of the series, effective January 1, 2026.
2026 Schedule Released with Homestead-Miami Championship Race
NASCAR released the 2026 schedule for the newly named O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, notably announcing the return of Homestead-Miami Speedway as the site for the championship race.
NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Officially Debuts
The series officially began its operations under the new title sponsorship of O'Reilly Auto Parts, ushering in a new era for NASCAR's secondary division.
New Chase Playoff Format Adopted
NASCAR implemented a new Chase playoff format for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series, replacing the previous playoff system.
O'Reilly Auto Parts Sponsors NASCAR Local Racing Series
O'Reilly Auto Parts expanded its NASCAR involvement by becoming the exclusive entitlement partner of the newly launched NASCAR Local Racing Series, formerly the NASCAR Weekly Series.
2026 Season Begins at Daytona
The 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season officially kicked off with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
Current Status: Mid-Season with Incentive Program
As of today, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is mid-season, with Justin Allgaier leading the points and the O'Reilly Auto Parts incentive bonus program rewarding race winners.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) represents the latest evolution of NASCAR's long-standing secondary national touring series, a division historically designed to develop talent for the premier Cup Series. The series has undergone several name changes throughout its history, reflecting various title sponsorships. It originated as the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series in 1982, transitioning to the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series in 1984, then simply the NASCAR Busch Series in 2003. Nationwide Insurance took over sponsorship in 2008, renaming it the NASCAR Nationwide Series, followed by Comcast's Xfinity brand, which sponsored the series from 2015 to 2025 as the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
A significant turning point occurred on August 18, 2025, when NASCAR announced a multi-year partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts, designating them as the new title sponsor beginning January 1, 2026. This move rebranded the series as the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. O'Reilly Auto Parts, a long-time supporter of NASCAR through various race sponsorships across multiple series, deepened its commitment to the sport with this entitlement deal. The partnership also includes promotional opportunities and brand integrations with The CW Network, which became the exclusive broadcast home for the series, with an accelerated start to include the final eight races of the 2024 season.
The 2026 season, the inaugural year for the NOAPS, brought several key changes beyond the new title sponsor. In January 2026, NASCAR revealed a new Chase playoff format for both the NOAPS and the Craftsman Truck Series, replacing the prior Playoff system used from 2016 to 2025. The NOAPS Chase consists of nine races and 12 drivers, a slight variation from the Cup Series format. Additionally, the minimum age requirement to race on road courses and short ovals (less than 1.25 miles) was lowered to 17, and restrictions on full-time Cup Series drivers participating in NOAPS races were loosened, allowing them to run up to ten races.
As of July 5, 2026, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is actively running its first season under the new sponsorship. The series continues to be a vital platform for emerging talent, with drivers like Justin Allgaier leading the points standings. O'Reilly Auto Parts has also introduced an incentive bonus program, awarding $5,700 to the winner of each of the 33 races, along with end-of-year bonuses for the driver with the most per-race bonuses and the series champion. The series' exclusive broadcast on The CW Network has shown impressive year-over-year viewership growth, averaging 1.1 million total viewers and pacing to be the most watched series since 2018.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series made different choices?