How to actually watch it — four networks, one season
NASCAR's broadcast rights are split four ways for 2026, which trips up a lot of new fans expecting one single home for the sport. Early season races (February through May) air on FOX or FS1. A stretch of five races in May and June streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Five summer races (June-July) move to TNT Sports and Max. From race 25 onward — August through November, including every single Chase playoff race — coverage shifts to NBC Sports, USA Network and Peacock. All of it can be streamed through Fubo, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV regardless of which network is airing a given week.
What a race weekend actually looks like
A typical Cup Series weekend runs practice and qualifying on Friday or Saturday, before Sunday's race itself, divided into three stages with the top 10 in each of the first two stages earning bonus points. See our full points explainer for exactly how race, stage and fastest-lap points combine into one total.
Why 2026 is a genuinely different season to watch
NASCAR brought back its original "Chase" playoff format for 2026, replacing the elimination-round system it had run since 2014. The top 16 drivers in points after a 26-race regular season qualify, and — unlike the format it replaced — nobody gets eliminated along the way. All 16 stay alive across the full 10-race Chase, with the champion decided by cumulative points at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway rather than a single winner-take-all race.
What to actually watch for as a new fan
Watch for drafting and pack racing at the superspeedways — Daytona and Talladega in particular produce some of the closest, most unpredictable racing on the calendar. See our full superspeedway explainer for exactly how that works. Once the regular season ends in late August, every race becomes a genuine championship race, since all 16 Chase drivers are still fighting for the same title with no safety net.
Where to go next
Once the format clicks, our complete guide to NASCAR covers the sport's full technical and sporting picture, including exactly how the Next Gen car itself works.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch NASCAR in 2026?
Coverage is split across four networks: FOX/FS1 (Feb-May), Amazon Prime Video exclusively (five races, May-Jun), TNT Sports/Max (five races, Jun-Jul), and NBC Sports/USA Network/Peacock (Aug-Nov, including all playoff races). All can be streamed via Fubo, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
Which network shows the NASCAR playoffs in 2026?
NBC Sports, USA Network and Peacock carry every Chase playoff race, since the playoffs fall within the August-November broadcast window.
How is a NASCAR race structured?
Divided into three stages, with the top 10 drivers in each of the first two stages earning bonus stage points on top of whatever they eventually score from their final race position.
Why is 2026 considered a different kind of NASCAR season?
NASCAR brought back its original 'Chase' playoff format, replacing the 2014-2025 elimination-round system. No driver gets eliminated during the 2026 Chase — all 16 qualifiers stay alive to the finale, with cumulative points deciding the champion.
What should a new NASCAR fan watch for first?
Superspeedway drafting and pack racing at Daytona and Talladega — some of the closest, most unpredictable racing on the calendar, and a genuinely different style of racing than NASCAR's shorter ovals and road courses.
Sources
Priya covers endurance racing, NASCAR and drifting for CNMOTOS, drawn to disciplines that reward either sustained consistency over 24 hours or outright commitment in a single tandem battle.
View all articles by Priya Shah →
