So, it's Sunday. You’ve got the grill prepped, the cooler is stocked, and you’re ready to watch cars go fast and turn left. But then you realize you aren't actually sure when the green flag drops. Honestly, figuring out the nascar sunday race time has become a bit of a moving target lately. Between the new TV deals, the introduction of streaming-only windows, and tracks jumping around the calendar, you can't just assume it’s always 1:00 PM ET anymore.
If you are looking for the race today, Sunday, January 18, 2026—take a breath. There actually isn't a live Cup Series race this afternoon. We are currently in that weird "liminal space" of the preseason. The engines are quiet for a few more weeks until we hit the "Madhouse" at Bowman Gray. If you're looking for something to scratch the itch today, Racing America is running a marathon of the Anderson Speedway rewind until 9:00 PM ET, but the big show hasn't started yet.
The 2026 season is going to be a wild ride with a schedule that looks nothing like the "good old days." Here is the breakdown of what you actually need to know so you don't miss a single lap once the season officially kicks off.
The Big Kickoff: When Does the Season Actually Start?
Forget what you remember about the schedule from three years ago. The preseason kicks off under the lights. The first time you'll need to worry about a nascar sunday race time for the Cup guys is Sunday, February 1.
That night, NASCAR returns to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash. It’s a short-track beatdown that starts at 8:00 PM ET on FOX. This isn't your standard afternoon cruise; it’s basically a localized earthquake in Winston-Salem.
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Then we get to the "Great American Race." The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, February 15. The green flag is set for 2:30 PM ET. That’s the anchor. Everything else in the season revolves around that moment.
2026 Early Season Sunday Start Times
If you're planning your February and March, keep these times on your radar. They jump around a lot:
- February 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray – 8:00 PM ET (FOX)
- February 15: The Daytona 500 – 2:30 PM ET (FOX)
- February 22: Atlanta (Autotrader 400) – 3:00 PM ET (FOX)
- March 1: COTA (DuraMAX Grand Prix) – 3:30 PM ET (FOX)
- March 8: Phoenix – 3:30 PM ET (FS1)
- March 15: Las Vegas – 4:00 PM ET (FS1)
You’ll notice that as the circuit moves West, the start times creep later. That’s a deliberate move to hit that prime afternoon window for the East Coast while letting the West Coast fans actually wake up before the engines fire.
Where Are You Even Watching This Year?
This is where things get kinda messy. You can't just flip to one channel and leave it there for 36 weeks anymore. NASCAR’s new media rights deal means the "Sunday race time" conversation also has to include "what app am I opening?"
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FOX and FS1 handle the first 14 events. That’s the familiar territory. But once we hit May 24—the Coca-Cola 600—everything changes. Prime Video takes over for a five-race stretch. If you’re looking for the nascar sunday race time in June, you won't find it on cable. You'll be streaming it.
After Prime finishes its run with the brand-new San Diego Street Course race on June 21 (starting at 4:00 PM ET), TNT Sports steps in for the next five weeks. They’ll be handling the "In-Season Challenge," which is a tournament-style bracket with a $1 million prize. Then, finally, NBC and USA Network take us home for the playoffs.
The 2026 Schedule Shakeup You Didn't See Coming
NASCAR didn't just change the times; they moved the furniture. For the first time since 2019, the Championship Race is leaving Phoenix.
The season finale is now at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 8, at 3:00 PM ET. This is a massive win for fans who love multi-groove racing and hate the "follow the leader" style that Phoenix sometimes produced in the title game.
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We’re also seeing some "zombie" tracks come back to life. Chicagoland Speedway is back on the schedule for July 5 at 6:00 PM ET. North Wilkesboro is officially a points-paying race again on July 19. It’s a weird mix of ultra-modern street courses and gritty, historic short tracks.
Why Do the Times Keep Changing?
TV executives are basically playing Tetris with our Sundays. They are trying to avoid overlapping with NFL games in the fall and maximize viewership in the spring. That’s why you’ll see some races like the Nashville Superspeedway (May 31) starting as late as 7:00 PM ET, while others like Kansas (April 19) start at 2:00 PM ET.
It basically means you have to check the entry list and the TV guide every single week. There is no "standard" time anymore. Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache for the die-hards, but it keeps the sport in front of new eyeballs.
Practical Steps for the 2026 Season
If you don't want to be the person texting your friends "is the race on yet?" five minutes after the start, do these three things:
- Download the NASCAR App: They are actually pretty good about pushing a notification about an hour before the green flag. It’s the easiest way to track the nascar sunday race time without digging through Google every week.
- Check the Weather Early: Sunday races are notorious for "weather delays." In 2026, with more night races on the schedule, a one-hour rain delay at 7:00 PM is a much bigger deal than a one-hour delay at 1:00 PM.
- Audit Your Subscriptions: Since the broadcast jumps from FOX to Prime to TNT to NBC, make sure your logins work before the Sunday pre-race show starts. There is nothing worse than trying to reset a password while the field is on the pace laps.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Between the return to Homestead for the finale and the chaos of the San Diego street race, the only thing you can really count on is that the schedule will keep you on your toes. Set your DVRs, update your apps, and get ready for February.