World of Outlaws World Finals Thursday program moved up one hour
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 4, 2026
World Finals schedule
Thursday’s Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals program moved up one hour because of a potential threat of rain later in the day, and the change pushes the opening portion of the card into an earlier afternoon window. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 2:50 p.m. ET, with racing set to begin at 3 p.m. ET. That adjustment keeps the day moving on a quicker timetable and gives the event a better chance to get its racing in before weather becomes a larger issue. The Fan Zone is still set to open at noon, so the fan experience begins on schedule even with the change to the main program. The revised timing keeps the event centered on the same day and the same track action. It only moves the start line forward on the clock. That gives Thursday a more compressed schedule from the midday opening through the first races while leaving the rest of the weekend untouched.
Sprint Cars first
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is scheduled to run first, which puts the Sprint Car Series at the front of the racing order once opening ceremonies wrap up. That placement gives the evening’s first checkered-flag chase to one of the event’s main attractions and sets the pace for the rest of the program. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision is scheduled to follow the Sprint Car Series, keeping the racing card moving in a clear sequence before the Super DIRTcar Series takes over later. The order of events matters because the program brings together multiple divisions under one roof, and the schedule has to work as a single flow from one series to the next. The one-hour change does not alter that structure. It simply moves the first green flag earlier. Fans still have the same lineup of series to follow, with the Sprint Cars opening the track action, the Late Models coming next and the Super DIRTcar Series waiting in line after that. The revised start time changes when the racing begins, not what the program includes.
Weekend schedule unchanged
Friday and Saturday’s schedules remain unchanged, which keeps the rest of the World Finals weekend steady after Thursday’s adjustment. That means the one-hour move applies only to the opening day program and does not require a broader reset for the final two days of racing. For teams, officials and fans, that brings clarity after the schedule shift. Everyone can adjust Thursday’s arrival and viewing plans without wondering whether the rest of the weekend will follow the same pattern. The unchanged Friday and Saturday schedule also shows that the move is limited to the day with the rain concern. Thursday needs the earlier start, but the following days keep their original plan. The Fan Zone opening at noon still gives fans a full midday lead-in before the revised opening ceremonies at 2:50 p.m. ET and the 3 p.m. ET racing start. That leaves the day with a clear structure, from the afternoon buildup to the race program itself. The event stays intact, and the weekend remains on course after the opening-day tweak.
