Fans looking forward to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona TV schedule can expect an action-filled weekend as the regular season concludes in Daytona Beach, Florida, with high stakes for drivers who are seeking a playoff spot. Alongside the Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series hits the track, providing wall-to-wall racing coverage and crucial moments for teams and spectators.
Complete Broadcast Times for NASCAR at Daytona
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona Beach for the second time this season, bringing significant tension as the playoff cut approaches and the superspeedway format eliminates the traditional practice sessions. Starting Friday, viewers can tune into multiple events across several networks.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying kicks off at 3 p.m. ET Friday, streaming live on The CW App, with some affiliates potentially carrying the session over the air depending on locality. Later that afternoon, the NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET and will be available on TruTV and HBO Max. This determines the starting grid for the vital Cup Series race.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 coverage picks up with NASCAR Countdown Live on The CW at 7 p.m. ET Friday, leading up to the green flag at approximately 7:40 p.m. ET. The race itself is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, keeping viewers engaged into the evening.
Fans of the ARCA Menards Series can watch the Badger 200 at Madison International Speedway with the live broadcast beginning at 9 p.m. ET Friday on FS1, and the green flag is expected at 9:10 p.m. ET. Practice and qualifying for this series, scheduled for the earlier part of Friday, will not be televised.
The focal point of the weekend arrives Saturday with the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400. NBC’s “Countdown to Green” show starts at 7 p.m. ET, leading into live race coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET. The action is scheduled to begin on track around 7:45 p.m. ET, and the final laps will decide which 16 drivers secure a place in the playoffs, ratcheting up the intensity.
Supporting Series and Major Racing Events This Weekend
Daytona Beach is not the only site of racing excitement this weekend. The NTT IndyCar Series will be staging competition at The Milwaukee Mile, while the IMSA series has its own program at VIR. These events run concurrently with the busy NASCAR weekend, adding to the abundance of options for motorsport fans.
Meanwhile, the ARCA Menards Series at Madison International Speedway promises a concise but eventful schedule on Friday, with 45 minutes of practice at 4:45 p.m. ET and qualifying at 6:15 p.m. ET before the nighttime feature airs on FS1. This ensures that those tuning in for the NASCAR events can also catch ARCA’s live action later in the evening.
Xfinity Series Drivers Prepare for Daytona Challenge
Although the regular season is not yet over for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, drivers are set to compete fiercely at Daytona in pursuit of momentum and critical points. Friday’s qualifying session starts at 3 p.m. ET on The CW App, and later, the Wawa 250 commands the prime-time spot with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET followed by the green flag just after 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to verify local listings for potential additional coverage by CW affiliates.
Recent TV Ratings Highlight Shifts in Viewership
As the season reaches its peak, recent television ratings emphasize the impact that scheduling has on viewership. The previous Saturday night’s Cook Out 400 saw a marked decrease in TV ratings, earning a .75 rating with 1.385 million viewers on USA Network. In comparison, last year’s same event, held on Sunday night, achieved a 1.2 rating and was viewed by 2.216 million, indicating a substantial year-to-year drop that can be attributed to the change in broadcast day.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series eero 250 from Friday night drew a .21 rating with 411,000 viewers—an 8.7% drop in ratings and a 3.3% decrease in viewers from the prior year, despite both events taking place on the weekend. This trend points to the challenge of drawing larger TV audiences for races scheduled on Saturday evenings compared to Sunday nights.
The Race for the Playoffs and What Lies Ahead
This weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Daytona TV schedule serves not only as a conclusion to the regular season but also as a critical moment where playoff dreams will be realized or dashed. As the final spots are filled, the progression of top drivers such as those vying to join the 16 playoff contenders will command widespread attention. The broadcast schedule, spanning NBC, TruTV, HBO Max, CW, and FS1, enables fans nationwide to catch every pivotal session and race. With drama and high stakes guaranteed at Daytona Beach, motorsports followers can anticipate a consequential weekend that will shape the remainder of the NASCAR season, as well as influence the broader conversation around TV viewership and scheduling decisions at the heart of the sport.
