NASCAR Reveals Exciting 2026 Race Start Times & TV Networks

NASCAR confirms start times and broadcast partners for all 2026 national series events. Core details lock in viewing plans across FOX, Prime Video, TNT Sports, USA Network, NBC, and Peacock.

The Daytona 500 opens February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. That anchors the early-season network slate and frames scheduling around major marquee weekends.

Two weeks earlier, the Cook Out Clash runs February 1 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The exhibition returns to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for a second consecutive year.

Prime Video begins its second NASCAR stint on May 24. Its opener is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the green flag at 6 p.m. ET.

Prime’s five-race slate includes a special June 21 event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The race starts at 4 p.m. ET and honors the Navy’s 250th anniversary.

TNT Sports picks up at Sonoma Raceway on June 28, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. That weekend doubles as the launch of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge.

The five-race tournament awards $1 million to the top performer. It adds competitive jeopardy and narrative continuity across the mid-season window.

The closing stretch moves to USA Sports’ platforms for 14 races. Coverage spans USA Network, NBC, and Peacock, beginning August 9 at Iowa Speedway at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The season concludes November 8 with the NASCAR Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NBC carries the finale at 3 p.m. ET.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, rebranded from Xfinity, airs exclusively on The CW. Its season opens February 14 at Daytona at 5 p.m. ET.

The Craftsman Truck Series returns to FOX Sports coverage. FS1 begins the slate February 13 at Daytona at 7:30 p.m. ET.

FOX will televise all 20 ARCA Menards Series races. The season opens at Daytona on February 14 at noon ET.

Start times vary across series to balance track conditions, primetime slots, and audience reach. Afternoon openings dominate, with selected night races anchoring signature weekends.

The structure helps fans plan attendance and viewing. It also groups partners’ windows around narrative peaks, from the summer block to the Homestead-Miami championship finale.

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John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.