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If you think January is a dead zone for motorsports, you’re looking in the wrong places. While the high-banked turns of Daytona aren't hosting the 500 just yet, the "Roar Before the 24" is currently turning Florida into a cacophony of screaming GTP engines and turbo whistles. Honestly, this is the best time of year for a gearhead. You’ve got the dust of the Dakar Rally finally settling in Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously, the IMSA season is basically kicking the door down with testing and qualifying at Daytona.
Finding auto racing on tv this week can be a bit of a scavenger hunt because the broadcast rights are scattered across Peacock, NBC, and various YouTube livestreams. It isn’t like the NFL where you just turn on CBS at 1:00 PM and call it a day. You have to hunt for it. But if you’re a fan of sports car racing, open-wheel testing, or grueling rally raids, the rewards are massive.
The Roar Before the 24: Daytona’s High-Stakes Dress Rehearsal
Most casual fans wait for the Rolex 24 next weekend, but the real nerds know that the "Roar" is where the drama starts. This weekend, January 17-18, is all about the Roar Before the 24. It’s not just a practice session; it’s a psychological war. Teams are trying to figure out if the Balance of Performance (BoP) is going to screw them over or give them a fighting chance against the Porsches and Cadillacs.
Saturday, January 17 is heavy on the support series, but it’s the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge that actually puts cars in race conditions. You can catch Race 1 of that series on Peacock from 1:55 PM to 2:45 PM ET. If you haven't seen these LMP3 and GT4 cars banging fenders, you're missing out on some of the most frantic sprint racing of the year.
The WeatherTech Championship (the big boys in GTP) is on track for Practice 3 and 4 throughout Saturday. While those specific practice sessions aren't always televised on traditional cable, Peacock is your best friend here. They've basically become the home for everything IMSA.
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Sunday’s Main Event: Qualifying for the Rolex 24
Wait, I should clarify. The actual qualifying for the big race doesn't happen until Thursday, January 22. However, the Roar concludes this Sunday, January 18, with more sessions that define the pecking order. If you’re looking for auto racing on tv this week, Sunday provides the second leg of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.
- VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2: Sunday, Jan 18 at 1:15 PM ET (Peacock/YouTube).
It’s short. It’s loud. It’s exactly what you need to tide you over until the 24-hour marathon begins next week.
The Dakar Rally’s Brutal Finale
While the sports cars are humming in Florida, the Dakar Rally is reaching its breaking point in the Saudi Arabian desert. January 17 marks the 13th and final stage in Yanbu. If you haven't been following, this isn't just a race; it's a survival horror movie with roll cages.
The coverage for Dakar is Kinda unique. NBC Sports puts together an hour-long recap every night on Peacock. The final awards ceremony and the Stage 13 recap are the big draws this Saturday.
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Saturday, January 17 Dakar Schedule:
- Awards Ceremony (Live): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET on the Racer Network or YouTube.
- Stage 13 Highlights: 8:00 PM ET on Peacock.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a Toyota Hilux jump a sand dune at 100 mph while you’re sitting on your couch in a bathrobe. It makes the "auto racing on tv this week" experience feel a lot more epic.
The Mid-Week Slog and the Big Qualifying Jump
Monday through Wednesday are usually "shop days" for the teams at Daytona. You won't find much live action on the screen, but Thursday is when the tension actually breaks. On Thursday, January 22, the qualifying sessions for the Rolex 24 At Daytona take place.
This is where you see the GTP prototypes—those $1 million-plus hybrid monsters—pushing the limits of grip on the 3.56-mile road course. The qualifying broadcast usually runs from 2:05 PM to 3:25 PM ET. You can find it on Peacock and often the IMSA YouTube channel if you're outside the U.S. (or have a very good VPN).
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After the prototypes qualify, the Mazda MX-5 Cup takes the stage. If you've never watched the MX-5 Cup, you’re doing racing wrong. It’s basically 30 identical Miatas trying to occupy the same square inch of asphalt. Their first race is Thursday at 5:10 PM ET. It's pure chaos.
Why You Shouldn't Wait for the Daytona 500
A lot of people think the racing season starts with NASCAR in mid-February. Those people are wrong. By the time the Daytona 500 rolls around, we’ve already had a world-class rally, an endurance classic, and several support races.
NASCAR doesn't even hit the track for the "Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium" until February 1st. If you're looking for auto racing on tv this week, you're firmly in the world of sports cars and endurance.
What's fascinating about 2026 is how the technology is shifting. In the GTP class, you're seeing the maturation of hybrid systems that were finicky just two years ago. Now, they're reliable, fast, and sound like spaceships. Watching them navigate the "Bus Stop" chicane at Daytona under the lights during the Thursday night practice sessions (usually around 7:45 PM ET) is peak television.
Practical Steps for the Race Fan This Week
Don't just channel flip. You’ll end up watching a rerun of a bowling tournament from 1994. If you want to actually catch the action, here is your checklist:
- Check the Peacock "Motorsports" Tab: This is the single most important thing you can do. IMSA, Dakar, and eventually IndyCar all live here. If you don't have a subscription, the IMSA.tv site often streams the support races (like the Michelin Pilot Challenge) for free.
- Follow "IMSA Radio" on Socials: Sometimes the TV broadcast misses the nuance. John Hindhaugh and the crew provide the best play-by-play in the business. Syncing their audio with your TV feed is a pro-level move.
- Download a Spotter Guide: The Rolex 24 and the Roar involve dozens of cars with similar liveries. Go to Andy Blackmore’s site or the official IMSA page and print out the spotter guide. It makes identifying the cars at 190 mph much easier.
- Watch the MX-5 Cup: Seriously. I cannot stress this enough. It is the most entertaining 45 minutes of racing you will see all year. No pit stops, no fuel strategy, just drafting and diving.
Next week is the "big one," the Rolex 24, where the broadcast will jump between NBC, USA Network, and Peacock for a full day and night. But for right now, use this week to learn the drivers, understand the classes (GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro, and GTD), and appreciate the fact that the off-season is finally, mercifully over.