After an eventful season finale at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series Southern 500 Darlington event is ready to begin this Sunday, launching the playoff competition among 16 championship drivers at one of motorsport’s most iconic tracks. Fans looking to catch all the action from Darlington Raceway and beyond can find detailed broadcast schedules and viewing options for every session and race of the weekend.
Television and Streaming Details for the Southern 500
The highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will take place on Sunday, August 31, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with coverage available on USA Network. Apart from four races airing on NBC, the rest of the Cup Series events for this season will also be broadcast by USA Network, making it straightforward for viewers to tune in as the playoffs begin.
Practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series will precede the main event on Saturday, August 30. Fans can watch Cup Series practice at 9:00 a.m. ET and qualifying at 10:10 a.m. ET, both covered live on truTV. This coverage ensures comprehensive access to every stage of preparation and competition across the Cup Series weekend.
Complete Race Weekend Schedule Across Darlington and Portland
The Southern 500 weekend promises a range of motorsport events, with not only the Cup Series in action at Darlington Raceway, but also the opening round of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series post-season. Meanwhile, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will break tradition by racing at Portland International Raceway on the west coast instead of joining Labor Day festivities at Darlington.
On Friday, August 29, viewers can watch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as the teams prepare for their event with practice at 3:05 p.m. ET on FS2, followed by qualifying at 4:10 p.m. ET. Saturday brings on-track action at both Darlington and Portland, with the Truck Series racing the Sober or Slammer 200 at noon ET on FS1. At Portland International Raceway, the Xfinity Series will have their practice session at 3:00 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 4:05 p.m. ET, both streamed on The CW App. The Pacific Office Automation 147 Xfinity Series race will air at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW.
For those searching for their local CW Network station, a station guide is available online, requiring only your regional zip code for access information.
Day-by-Day NASCAR Southern 500 and Support Event Schedule
The following outlines the complete broadcast timetable and event listings for this action-packed weekend, featuring all major series:
Friday, August 29:
3:05 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice (Darlington) on FS2
4:10 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying (Darlington) on FS2
Saturday, August 30:
9:00 a.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Practice (Darlington) on truTV
10:10 a.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying (Darlington) on truTV
Noon ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race, Sober or Slammer 200 (Darlington) on FS1
3:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice (Portland) on The CW App
4:05 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying (Portland) on The CW App
7:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Race, Pacific Office Automation 147 (Portland) on The CW
Sunday, August 31:
6:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 (Darlington) on USA Network
What’s at Stake and What to Expect Next
This weekend marks the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, as highlighted at Darlington Raceway—one of NASCAR’s historic venues—where the top 16 drivers will vie for an early postseason advantage. Alongside the main event, the Craftsman Truck Series and the Xfinity Series continue their own late-season narratives at Darlington and Portland, respectively, drawing attention from fans nationwide. As the playoffs advance and drivers tackle unique challenges at iconic track locations, each scheduled session brings a chance for competitors to build momentum toward the Cup championship and for fans to witness high-stakes racing throughout the holiday weekend.
