Finding out which channel NASCAR is on can be tricky. The broadcast schedule often changes between Fox, FS1, NBC, and NBCSN throughout the season. Fortunately, the NASCAR playoff schedule remains consistent. Tonight’s race, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, will be broadcast on NBCSN. This crucial race is the third of the ten-race NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and the first elimination race.
NBC and NBCSN have broadcasted 13 races this season, taking over from Fox and FS1 after the All-Star Race in July. This race marks the 25th event since NASCAR returned with a modified schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 29th Cup Series race overall, keeping NASCAR on track for its full 36-race season.
Tonight’s race at Bristol is the fourth in a series of five consecutive night races for the Cup Series. Details on how to watch, including the TV channel and live stream options, are below.
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be broadcast on NBCSN tonight, September 19th, starting at 7:30 PM ET. Live stream options include NBCSports.com and fuboTV (7-day free trial). PRN will provide radio coverage of the race.
Despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, NASCAR is back on its original broadcast schedule. NBCSN will air tonight’s race at Bristol as planned.
Out of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series races NBC is scheduled to broadcast in 2020, 12 will be on NBCSN, and the remaining eight on NBC. Five of the final six races of the season will be shown on NBC. Viewers can use the NBC Sports channel finder to locate their local NBCSN channel.
Rick Allen will provide commentary for tonight’s race on NBCSN, joined by analysts Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte. This is the standard broadcast team for all Cup Series races on NBC and NBCSN this season.
The green flag for tonight’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway drops at 7:30 PM ET. This start time, under the lights at Bristol, means mid-race adjustments will be crucial for teams as track conditions change. The track will begin hot and slick, cooling and becoming faster as the night progresses.
While the race is scheduled for 500 laps (266.5 miles), it must reach the halfway point to be considered official should weather delays occur. Bristol Motor Speedway is equipped for night racing, allowing for the possibility of the race extending into the early hours of Sunday morning if necessary.
Those with cable or satellite subscriptions can stream the race live on NBCSports.com or through the NBC Sports app. For cord-cutters, several streaming services offer NBC and NBCSN, including Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV, fuboTV, and AT&T Now, all of which have free trial options.
NASCAR is determined to complete its full 36-race schedule this season. Despite alterations to the regular season, the 10 playoff races remain unchanged. The table below outlines the complete playoff schedule, including dates, tracks, TV channels, and start times.
The regular season faced significant changes due to the pandemic. Several races were rescheduled, moved to different tracks, or run as doubleheaders. Races at Darlington, Charlotte, and Pocono filled in for postponed events at Chicagoland, Richmond, and Sonoma. Doubleheaders were held at Dover and Michigan. Notably, the Watkins Glen race was relocated to the Daytona road course due to New York’s quarantine restrictions. This marked the first time the NASCAR Cup Series raced on the Daytona road course.