NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, championship race: 2026 schedule, dates, times, TV channel, live stream, winner, results
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule features 10 Chase races beginning September 6 at Darlington Raceway and ending November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In 2026, NASCAR returned to a Chase-style format. The top 16 drivers in regular-season points advance to the postseason. All 16 drivers remain in championship contention throughout the 10-race Chase.
Points are reset at the beginning of the postseason. The driver with the most points after the championship race is crowned the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
When Do the 2026 NASCAR Playoffs Start?
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Darlington Raceway.
How many races are there in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
How many rounds are in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
How many drivers make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
When is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?
What TV channels are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on?
Overall TV partners: Fox, FS1, TNT, NBC and USA Network
Primary streaming options: Prime Video, Peacock, fubo, DIRECTV and Max.
Will there be live streams of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff races?
Overall TV partners: Fox, FS1, TNT, NBC and USA Network
Primary streaming options: Prime Video, Peacock, fubo, DIRECTV and Max.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoff Schedule, dates, times, TV Channels.
All times are Eastern.
Cookout Southern 500
September 6, 2026
Darlington Raceway
Race time: 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Enjoy Illinois 300
September 13, 2026
World Wide Technology Raceway
Race time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Bass Pro Shops Night Race
September 19, 2026
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Hollywood Casino 400
September 27, 2026
Kansas Speedway
Race time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
South Point 400
October 4, 2026
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Race time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Bank of America Roval 400
October 11, 2026
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Freeway Insurance 500
October 18, 2026
Phoenix Raceway
Race time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Streaming: DIRECTV and participating live TV services
Yellawood 500
October 25, 2026
Talladega Superspeedway
Race time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, fubo and DIRECTV
Xfinity 500
November 1, 2026
Martinsville Speedway
Race time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, fubo and DIRECTV
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
November 8, 2026
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Race time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, fubo and DIRECTV
2026 NASCAR Chase TV Coverage
The first seven Chase races will air on USA Network.
The final three playoff races at Talladega, Martinsville and Homestead-Miami will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
Radio coverage will be available through PRN or MRN, depending on the track, along with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Practice and qualifying sessions for many races will air on truTV and stream on Max.
Which drivers have already clinched berths in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
How do the NASCAR cup series playoffs work, what is the format?
- Sixteen drivers qualify for the playoffs, but all other drivers still participate in playoff races (typically 20 other drivers). Competitors qualify for the playoffs by winning a regular season race or earning the most points among winless drivers.
- There are four rounds in the playoffs – the Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8 and Championship 4.
- There are 10 races in the playoffs – three in the Round of 16, 12 and 8 and one in the Championship 4.
- After each of the first three rounds, the four drivers with the fewest points are eliminated, cutting the field from 16 to 12 to eight to four.
- Drivers automatically advance to the next round if they win a race in a round, though.
- Points do not matter in the Championship 4 race – whoever crosses the line first among the final four drivers is crowned as the season champion.
- Again, though, there will be 36 drivers racing in the final event – but only four are championship eligible. So, while a driver technically only needs to beat the other three to win the title, the eventual champion has won the Championship 4 race every year since the format began in 2014.
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