Free League - 2026 Schedule & New Category Picks
How To Play
Now that we have some ground rules established and if you have even continued reading until this point, I'll start explaining how this season is broken down into segments. Keep note that all of the due dates are highlighted in RED. If you're late...you're out.
Lets start with the basics; four definitions you simply MUST know:
1. Team Picks:
This is the Nascar Cup Team you are choosing and emailing to me. A team pick is a team (#24 Dupont Chevy) and not a driver (Jeff Gordon).
2. Category:
This is a group of team picks that I have divided up based on tweaked owners points. You are only allowed one team pick per category. The category team picks get jumbled around from segment to segment, so you must choose new team picks at the times I set.
3. Segment:
This is the time frame that your category team picks will earn you points. Below are the lists of segments which are a cluster of races. When you choose your category team picks, you are choosing only for the upcoming segment only.
2026 Schedule
Segment #1 (Opener Segment - 5 RACES)
You will be allowed a total of 7 team picks for this segment. The due date for me to have received these team picks is by
Thursday, February 12th 2026 by 10:00pm EDT.
This segment encompasses the following races:
Sunday, February 15 - Daytona 500 Daytona1
Sunday - February 22 - Autotrader 400 Atlanta1
Sunday, March 1 - DuraMAX Grand Prix CotA
Sunday March 8 - Straight Talk Wireless 500 Phoenix1
Sunday, March 15 - Pennzoil 400 Vegas1
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Segment #2 (Second Segment - 7 Races)
You will be allowed a total of 7 team picks for this segment. The due date for me to have received these team picks is by
Friday, March 20th 2026 by 2:00pm EDT.
This segment encompasses the following races:
Sunday, March 22 - Goodyear 400 Darlington1
Sunday, March 29 - Cook Out 400 Martinsville1
Sunday, April 12 - Food City 500 Bristol1
Sunday, April 19 - AdventHealth 400 Kansas1
Sunday, April 26 - Jack Links 500 Talladega1
Sunday, May 3 - Wurth 400 Texas
Sunday, May 10 - GoBowling at the Glen Watkins Glen
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Segment #3 (Third Segment - 7 Races )
You will be allowed a total of 7 team picks for this segment. The due date for me to have received these team picks is by
Friday, May 22, 2026 by 2:00pm EDT.
This segment encompasses the following races:
Sunday, May 24 - Coca Cola 600 Charlotte1
Sunday, May 31 - Cracker Barrell 400 Nashville
Sunday, June 7 - Firekeepers Casino 400 Michigan
Sunday, June 14 - Great American Getaway 400 Pocono
Sunday, June 21 - Anduril 250 Race the Base San Diego
Sunday, June 27 - Toyota / Save Mart 350 Sonoma
Sunday, July 5 - Chicagoland 400 Chicago
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Segment #4 (Fourth Segment - 7 Races)
You will be allowed a total of 7 team picks for this segment. The due date for me to have received these team picks is by
Friday, July 10, 2026 by 2:00pm EDT.
This segment encompasses the following races:
Sunday, July 12 - Quaker State 400 Atlanta2
Sunday, July 19 - Window World 450 North Wilkesboro
Sunday, July 26 - Brickyard 400 Indianapolis
Sunday, August 9 - Iowa Corn 350 Iowa
Saturday, August 15 - Cookout 400 Richmond
Sunday, August 23 - USA Today 301 Loudon
Saturday, August 29 - Coke Zero 400 Daytona2
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Segment #5 (Chase Segment - 10 races)
You will be allowed a total of 7 team picks for this segment.
The due date for me to have received these team picks is by
Saturday, September 5, 2026 by 10:00pm EDT.
The Chase races will encompass the following races:
Sunday, September 6 - Southern 500 Darlington2
Sunday, September 13 - Enjoy Illinois 300 WWT
Saturday, September 19 - Bass Pro Shops Night Race Bristol2
Sunday, September 27 - Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas2
Sunday, October 4 - South Point 400 Vegas2
Sunday, October 11 - Bank of America Charlotte2
Sunday, October 18 - Arizona 500 Phoenix2
Sunday, October 25 - Yellawood 500 Talladega2
Sunday, November 1 - XFinity 500 Martinsville2
Sunday, November 8 - Ford 400 Homestead
Team Picks
I setup the upcoming segment team picks two weeks before they are due to me (unless the previous race is less than 2 weeks away). You will always have plenty of notice. They will be composed of seven categories of team picks in which you are allowed to choose only ONE team pick per category and send them to me before the above-mentioned due dates. These team picks you will make are only good for the upcoming segment. Each segment the team picks get jumbled around in different categories based on the tweaked owners points. You are also not allowed to use the Segment #1 "Opener" team picks for, say Segment #2, and #3. You must send me new team picks each time I assign new categories. I will be giving ample time to prepare you for such events. However, you are allowed to "repick" teams from segment to segment.(e.g. You cannot keep your exact same team picks for the entire year because they will become jumbled with each new segment. Of course you are allowed to "repick" team picks throughout the year, but they may be in a new category each time)