Last year NASCAR signed a new broadcast deal that has the three racing series scattered across several networks. The Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series are limited to a single network; but the Cup Series is being spread across four networks and some half dozen channels.
The move has sparked some major complaints from racing fans who at best feel cheated while others are angry that the races are not being broadcast on open free networks.
The Craftsman Truck Series will remain at FOX Sports with a majority of the races on FS1.
The Xfinity Series has a new home – the CW Network – where all of the practices, qualifying, and races will be broadcast.
The CW Network is available with local channels if there is a channel in the area. It can even be captured with an antennae.
There is also a CW app for streaming. Other streaming services that carry the CW are DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, the NBC Sports app, and YouTubeTV.
There is no charge to access the app for watching races.
The Cup Series begins on the FOX Networks with the Daytona 500 on the main FOX channel. Most of the races in the FOX package will be on other FOX Sports channels.
Beginning with the longest race of the season – the Coca-Cola 600 – Amazon Prime will take over the next five races. Dale Jr fans will be happy to know that Jr will be a part of the broadcast crew.
For people who have Amazon Prime, accessing the race is free of charge.
Practice and qualifying will remain on the FOX Sports channels through the Pocono Race – the last scheduled Prime race.
Amazon Prime will carry the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Mexico City, and Pocono Raceway.
Also coming on board this year is TNT Sports, Max, and truTV for a series of races. Five races will be broadcast on TNT with a simulcast on Max. Max and truTV will carry practice and qualifying.
The action on TNT begins June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. TNT will broadcast the races in Atlanta, the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma Raceway, the Monster Mile at Dover, and the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The TNT races are also in In-Season Challenge races – a mid-season racing tournament.
Max is a subscribe only network. TruTV is available on cable networks and subscription streaming. Max subscribers will offer driver in-car cameras via its Driver Cam feature.
As with previous seasons, NBC and its USA, Peacock, and NBC Sports app will fill out the season. The parent network NBC will broadcast only four of the remaining races – the summer race at Daytona, the fall race at Talladega, the fall race at Martinsville, and Phoenix. USA will carry the remainder of races.
The first NBC Network race begins August 3 at Iowa Speedway and conclude with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
NBC networks will carry the races at Iowa Speedway, Watkins International, Richmond Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Speedway, Kansas Motor Speedway, the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway.