AREA Announces Season 8 Schedule, Sign-Up Dates, and Broadcast Partnership with Prime Time Racing TV

February 19th, 2026 —

AREA iRacing has officially released the full schedule for Season 8, along with key registration dates for teams and drivers ahead of what is shaping up to be the league’s most competitive season to date.

The biggest headline surrounding the Season 8 launch is the opening of registration.

Team owner and chartered driver sign-ups will officially open on Monday, February 23rd, marking the first opportunity for organizations to finalize their lineups for the upcoming season. Shortly after, non-chartered driver sign-ups will open on Friday, February 27th, giving independent drivers across all three series a chance to secure their spot on the grid through the AREA website.

With demand continuing to grow each season, both registration windows are expected to fill quickly.

In addition to the schedule release, AREA confirmed that every event during Season 8 will be broadcast live on Prime Time Racing TV, who will serve as the league’s exclusive broadcast partner. With over 50 events scheduled across the Cup, Truck, and Pro Series, fans can expect consistent, high-quality coverage from the opening green flag in March through the championship finale in August.

The on-track action begins with the AREA Preseason Shootout on Monday, March 9th at Daytona, featuring the Next Gen Cup cars. Additional details regarding entries and format for the exhibition event will be released in the coming days.

The official start of the season follows shortly after with the league’s premier event, the AREA 500. The week kicks off with qualifying and duel races on Monday, March 16th, before the main event takes place on Monday night, March 23rd. As always, the AREA 500 sets the tone for the season and remains one of the most anticipated races on the calendar.

The Season 8 schedule features 12 regular season races, an All-Star Race, and a revamped 5 race chase format across all three series. Tracks range from superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega to short tracks, road courses, and intermediate staples, creating a balanced and demanding schedule for drivers and teams alike.

With the schedule now set, broadcasts locked in, and registration dates confirmed, the focus now shifts to team formation and driver sign-ups as the countdown to Season 8 officially begins.

For those looking to compete, the message is simple — be ready when registration opens.

Season 8 is coming fast.