What Channel Is NASCAR On Today? Every 2026 Race and Network

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sariasaifkhalid

August 8, 2026

Quick Answer: The next NASCAR Cup Series race is the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 25 at 2:00 PM ET on NBC (pre-race from 1:30 PM on NBC). NASCAR’s own TV guide also lists HBO Max for the race. It is race 8 of the 10-race Chase. Qualifying is Saturday, October 24 at 1:00 PM ET on truTV and HBO Max. All three remaining races are on NBC: Talladega, Martinsville and the championship at Homestead-Miami on November 8.

Every Remaining 2026 Cup Series Race and Its Channel

Three races are left. All times Eastern. The Talladega listing was checked on 19 October 2026 against NASCAR’s own TV guide (updated 18 October), and the Martinsville and Homestead races on 5 October 2026.

Date Race Track Time Channel Streams on
Sun, Oct 25 YellaWood 500 (Chase race 8) Talladega 2:00 PM NBC Peacock; HBO Max (listed by NASCAR)
Sun, Nov 1 Xfinity 500 (Chase race 9) Martinsville 2:00 PM NBC Peacock
Sun, Nov 8 Championship race (Chase race 10) Homestead-Miami 3:00 PM NBC Peacock

Note: All three remaining races are on NBC, so they stream on Peacock and are free with an antenna. Earlier Chase races on USA Network did not stream on Peacock, which is why some fans could not find them there.

The first seven Chase races (Darlington, Gateway, Bristol, Kansas, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Phoenix) were all on USA Network. Tyler Reddick won at Phoenix on October 18, and Kyle Larson kept the points lead, five points ahead of Christopher Bell, according to NASCAR’s race recap.

The Chase format is back for 2026: the top 16 drivers after the regular season had their points reset, and whoever leads the standings after the 10th race at Homestead is champion. There are no elimination rounds, so every Chase race matters right to the end.

Need the channel number rather than the network? USA Network is 242 on DIRECTV, 105 on DISH and 50 on Fios, and our USA Network channel guide has the cable numbers.

Why NASCAR Is So Hard to Find in 2026

Most sports live on one or two networks all season. NASCAR does not. Under the current media deal the Cup Series season is carved into blocks, and each block belongs to a different broadcaster. The channel that showed you a race in March will be wrong by September.

Part of season Races Broadcaster Also streams on
February to mid-May 1 to 12 Fox and FS1 Fox Sports app
Late May to late June 13 to 17 Prime Video Streaming only
Late June to late July 18 to 22 TNT Sports HBO Max
August to November 23 to 36 NBC and USA Network Peacock

We are now in the final block. Coverage moved from TNT to NBC and USA Network at Iowa Speedway in August, and stays there through the championship. If you have been looking for NASCAR on TNT or Prime Video and finding nothing, that is why.

Channel Numbers for NBC, USA and truTV

NBC is a local broadcast station, so it has no national number and is free over the air with an antenna. USA Network and truTV are cable channels with fixed satellite numbers, and our TV Channel Finder looks up the exact number on your provider.

Network DIRECTV DISH Fios Cable
NBC Local channel Local channel Local Varies, free with antenna
USA Network 242 105 50 / 550 HD About 35 on Xfinity
truTV 246 242 183 Varies by market

Practice and Qualifying Are on Different Channels

Worth knowing: The race and the sessions leading up to it are often on different channels. Talladega qualifying airs on truTV and HBO Max on Saturday, October 24 at 1:00 PM ET, while the race is on NBC on Sunday. Tuning to the race channel on Saturday will show you something else entirely.

If you want the full weekend rather than just the race, check the qualifying channel separately each week. It does not follow the race.

How to Watch the Rest of the Season Without Cable

For the remainder of 2026, your options are simpler than they were earlier in the year, because every remaining race is on NBC:

  • Peacock carries all three remaining races, which are on NBC (Talladega, Martinsville and the championship).
  • An antenna gets you all three remaining races free, including the championship at Homestead. It will not get you qualifying on truTV.
  • A live TV service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV Stream, or Sling Blue) covers both NBC and USA. Note that Sling Orange does not carry USA Network, so the plan colour matters.
  • Cable or satellite covers everything, provided your package includes USA Network, which nearly all do.

For the three remaining races, Peacock or an antenna is enough. For qualifying on truTV, you need cable, satellite, a live TV service that carries truTV, or HBO Max. See our Sling Orange vs Blue guide before choosing a Sling plan.

Start times occasionally move and races get delayed by weather. For a race you are planning around, check your provider guide on the day.

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