The NASCAR Championship Weekend Phoenix has begun, drawing national attention as drivers in each of NASCAR’s premier series compete for titles at Phoenix Raceway. Taking place from Friday through Sunday, this event will decide new champions before the sport heads into its offseason, and for fans, a comprehensive TV schedule ensures they won’t miss any of the drama.
NASCAR Championship Weekend TV Coverage and Key Times
As the action heats up in Arizona, major broadcast networks and streaming platforms are set to provide extensive coverage for the concluding events of the season. NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series West all hold crucial sessions and final races over these three days. The NASCAR Cup Series teams begin by entering Phoenix Raceway on Friday morning, preparing for a traditional three-day showdown that caps off the year with intensity and high stakes.
The notable highlight remains the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500k, whose countdown coverage on NBC begins at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, directly followed by the green flag at approximately 3:10 p.m. ET. Alongside the Cup Series, both the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series will have dedicated television windows, as well as the ARCA Menards Series West, ensuring that every moment of the NASCAR Championship Weekend Phoenix is brought to viewers nationwide.
Comprehensive NASCAR TV Schedule in Phoenix
Fans eager to catch every session can refer to the full TV schedule below, which outlines each race, qualifying, and practice session, with noted broadcast partners:
Friday:
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 Qualifying – 3:35 p.m. ET on FS2
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Xfinity 200 Practice – 4:35 p.m. ET on The CW App
- NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500k Practice – 5:35 p.m. ET on TruTV/HBO Max
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 – 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1
Saturday:
- ARCA Menards Series West Desert Diamond West Valley Casino 100 – 1:15 p.m. ET on FLORacing
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Xfinity 200 Qualifying – 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW App
- NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500k Qualifying – 5:05 p.m. ET on TruTV/HBO Max
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Xfinity 200 – 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW
Sunday:
- NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500k – 2 p.m. ET on NBC
This lineup ensures fans experience the drama of qualifying sessions and every green flag, culminating in the celebration of new champions in each top-tier series.
Impact of Daylight Saving Time and Local Time Differences
For those planning to watch or attend in person, it is crucial to remember that daylight saving time ends across most of the United States this weekend, with clocks set back one hour at 2 a.m. ET Sunday morning. Unlike much of the country, Arizona—including Phoenix—does not observe daylight savings and remains on Mountain Standard Time all year, aside from certain reservation areas.
This means that during the NASCAR Championship Weekend Phoenix, Phoenix is aligned with the Pacific time zone for most of the year. After daylight saving ends, the state matches the rest of the Mountain time zone, making Phoenix two hours behind Eastern Time instead of three. Attendees and viewers outside Arizona need to be vigilant with scheduling, particularly on Sunday when championship races are decided at Phoenix Raceway.
Championship Weekend: Multiple Series Conclude Their Seasons
Phoenix Raceway is now hosting its sixth consecutive Championship Weekend, acting as the final battleground for four major NASCAR divisions. Each series brings a robust schedule and storylines, from title hopefuls to drivers bidding farewell to their current roles.
The NASCAR Cup Series teams begin Friday, their three-day routine packed with a practice on TruTV/HBO Max, qualifying on Saturday, and Sunday’s main event where the next Cup champion will be crowned amid tense competition and changing track conditions.
This year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series finale carries even greater stakes, as Xfinity bids farewell as the series’ title sponsor after this race. O’Reilly Auto Parts is set to replace Xfinity as entitlement sponsor in 2026, making Saturday’s Xfinity 200 an emotional milestone.
Truck Series teams have already started their Phoenix activities, having completed a Thursday night practice session off-air, and will aim for the championship following Friday’s televised qualifying and evening race. The ARCA Menards Series West will also crown its season champion after teams practice and qualify Friday before racing Saturday afternoon in the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino 100.
Storylines and Session Details for Each Series
The Cup Series features Friday’s sole practice at 5:30 p.m. ET on TruTV/HBO Max and Saturday’s qualifying at 5:00 p.m. ET, culminating with a one-hour Countdown to Green on NBC at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, and the main event’s green flag at 3:10 p.m. ET.
For the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a 50-minute practice starts Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET, streamed exclusively on The CW App and website, and qualifying is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, also streamed. Race coverage for the Xfinity 200 opens with NASCAR Countdown Live starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, and race start at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW. Viewers should note potential adjustments to showtimes if ongoing college football programming extends.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, following a Thursday night untelevised session, shows qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS2 Friday and the Craftsman 150 championship race at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday night on FS1. The ARCA Menards Series West, after untelevised sessions Friday, races at 1:15 p.m. ET Saturday on FLORacing, with the green flag shortly after.
Weather Expectations for Phoenix’s Championship Races
Phoenix Raceway’s location in the Sonoran Desert often suggests sunny, dry conditions—though exceptions exist. Notably, fall races in 1998 and 2015 were cut short by rain, resulting in wins for Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Jr., respectively. Generally, weather remains sunny and temperatures hover near 90°F, though glare from the sun has historically posed issues, especially before upgrades to the grandstands on the west side.
Looking ahead to the NASCAR Championship Weekend Phoenix, forecast models predict all three days will bring clear skies, high temperatures around 90°F, and minimal wind. These conditions should contribute to uninterrupted on-track action, so attendees are advised to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and adequate hydration to the venue.
Recent Television Ratings and National Interest
National audiences have shown mixed interest in recent NASCAR events. Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville recorded an audience of 2.35 million on NBC, which is a 6% decrease from the previous year’s 2.5 million. The Xfinity Series IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, airing on The CW, garnered a .47 rating and 723,000 viewers, but direct comparisons to last year are unavailable.
Meanwhile, the Craftsman Truck Series Slim Jim 200 drew a .20 rating and 362,000 viewers, marking a 16% dip in ratings and 21% drop in viewership compared to last year’s corresponding broadcast, which earned a .24 rating and 462,000 viewers. These numbers reflect broader trends and may influence how media organizations and sponsors approach future coverage and support for the series.
What This Weekend Means for Drivers, Teams, and Fans
The stakes for the NASCAR Championship Weekend Phoenix could not be higher for drivers and teams, as winning at Phoenix secures legendary status and closes out one of stock car racing’s most grueling seasons. The intensity is magnified by recent shifts in television audiences and the impending transition of series sponsorships, as the NASCAR Xfinity Series prepares to welcome O’Reilly Auto Parts as a future entitlement partner.
For fans in Arizona and across the nation, this weekend is both an ending and a beginning: a celebration for champions newly crowned, a final sendoff for those moving on, and the launching point for the sport’s next chapter after a brief offseason hiatus. With Phoenix Raceway serving as host once more, all eyes will be watching to see which drivers rise to become champions in the desert sun.
