The NASCAR Cup Series regular season comes down to one final night at Daytona International Speedway.
Daytona hosts the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, Aug. 29, with the race carrying considerably more weight than the typical late-summer trip to the 2.5-mile superspeedway. It is the final race before the Chase begins, leaving drivers with one last opportunity to secure their place in the championship field.
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Before the Cup Series takes center stage Saturday night, there is plenty of NASCAR action on Friday. Cup qualifying will set the starting lineup, while the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will race under the lights in the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
For fans planning to watch from home, the weekend is spread across several television and streaming outlets.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch NASCAR at Daytona, including TV channels, streaming options, start times and the complete weekend schedule.
What Channel Is the NASCAR Daytona Race On?
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Daytona International Speedway.
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NBC will televise the Cup Series race, while HBO Max will provide a streaming option. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the radio broadcast.
Saturday’s Daytona race is the final event of NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series regular season.
Saturday, Aug. 29
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7:30 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400
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Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
How to Watch NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying at Daytona
Fans do not have to wait until Saturday night for Cup Series action.
Cup qualifying is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 28, and will air on truTV. It can also be streamed on HBO Max.
The session carries an added layer of intrigue because the Daytona field is oversubscribed. Forty-one drivers are entered for 40 starting positions, meaning one driver will fail to qualify for Saturday night’s race.
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Friday, Aug. 28
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5 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
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Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
How to Watch the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona
Friday night’s racing concludes with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET Friday and will air on The CW. The race can also be streamed through The CW’s available streaming platforms.
Qualifying for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is scheduled earlier Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.
Friday, Aug. 28
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3 p.m. ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying
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7:30 p.m. ET: Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola
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Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Full NASCAR Daytona Weekend Schedule
Here is the key on-track schedule for NASCAR’s 2026 summer weekend at Daytona International Speedway:
Friday, Aug. 28
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3 p.m. ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying
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5 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, truTV/HBO Max
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7:30 p.m. ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, The CW
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Saturday, Aug. 29
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7:30 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400, NBC/HBO Max
Unlike many NASCAR weekends, there is no Cup Series practice session scheduled at Daytona before qualifying.
Why Saturday’s Daytona Race Matters
Daytona is already one of the most unpredictable stops on the Cup Series schedule. Add the regular-season finale to the equation, and Saturday night carries enormous championship implications.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will determine the field for the Chase. For drivers still outside the championship picture, Daytona represents their final opportunity to change the trajectory of their season.
It also comes at a track where predicting a winner can be particularly difficult. Drafting, manufacturer alliances and the threat of a multi-car crash can reshape the running order in seconds.
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The Cup Series began its season at Daytona in February, when Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500 for 23XI Racing. Now NASCAR returns to the same 2.5-mile superspeedway to determine which drivers will have an opportunity to race for the championship.
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