“Kill the playoffs and maybe I’ll watch”: Fans react as NASCAR unveils 2026 broadcast plans for all National Series 

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, NASCAR revealed the broadcasting plan for all National Series for the 2026 season. However, the fans were not impressed with the governing body's plan and called them out in the comments.

Five big networks will broadcast the 2026 NASCAR season on different occasions. FOX, Amazon Prime, TNT, and NBC will cover the Cup Series next year. While FS1 will broadcast selected Cup Series events, it will also nearly cover the entire Craftsman Truck Series season. Additionally, CW will air the whole season of the Xfinity Series.

Following the broadcasting plan for the 2026 season, some fans were not excited. Instead, they called out NASCAR, with one fanatic questioning:

"What crucial programming in nbc on Sundays is preventing these races from being on there instead of USA network? Also if you’re going to throw it on a USA why can’t that also be simulcasted on peacock for those who have peacock? @NBCSports"

Another expressed his frustration and stated:

"Kill the playoffs and maybe i’ll watch. Im done otherwise"

Here are some more reactions to the news:

"A 2:15 PM Dega start time is absolutely ridiculous!I don't care how many more couch potatoes you get to view it! Dega shouldnt start later than 12:30, 1:00 CST at the latest! How about thinking about the fans for once! Not just viewers on TV! I've already lost one of our relatives from attending because of the late start!" A motorsports enthusiast expressed his opinion. "9 cup races on regular television. You wonder why you’re losing fans," an X user commented. "Hell yeah what a great idea to start a race during the peak football season times," another criticized the governing body for starting a race during peak football season. "Championship post race interviews will be available on YouTube and X since the championship is on NBC. We gotta shut down the nascar broadcast at a certain time for football night in America," another joined him in the comments.

Prime Video will make its return in the 2026 season from the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The streaming platform will also cover events at Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and San Diego (Naval Base Coronado).

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NASCAR released the full schedule for the 2026 Cup Series season

In November 2025, NASCAR revealed the full-time schedule for the upcoming 2026 season. The next season will witness changes in the Cup Series, including two extra races and the Championship 4 venue shifting to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Athletic was the first to release the schedule, and here's the list of the races:

• Feb. 1: Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
• Feb. 15: Daytona 500
• Feb. 22: Atlanta (EchoPark)
• Mar. 1: Circuit of the Americas
• Mar. 8: Phoenix
• Mar. 15: Las Vegas
• Mar. 22: Darlington
• Mar. 29: Martinsville
• Apr. 5: Off (Easter)
• Apr. 12: Bristol
• Apr. 19: Kansas
• Apr. 26: Talladega
• May 3: Texas
• May 10: Watkins Glen
• May 17: All-Star Race (Dover)
• May 24: Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
• May 31: Nashville
• Jun. 7: Michigan
• Jun. 14: Pocono
• Jun. 21: San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
• Jun. 28: Sonoma
• Jul. 5: Chicagoland
• Jul. 12: Atlanta (EchoPark)
• Jul. 19: North Wilkesboro
• Jul. 26: Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
• Aug. 2: Off weekend
• Aug. 9: Iowa
• Aug. 15: Richmond
• Aug. 23: New Hampshire
• Aug. 29: Daytona (regular-season finale)
• Sept. 6: Darlington (playoff opener)
• Sept. 13: Gateway
• Sept. 19: Bristol (Round 1 elimination)
• Sept. 27: Kansas
• Oct. 4: Las Vegas
• Oct. 11: Charlotte Roval (Round 2 elimination)
• Oct. 18: Phoenix
• Oct. 25: Talladega
• Nov. 1: Martinsville (Round 3 elimination)
• Nov. 8: Homestead (Championship Race)

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson secured the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship title. Larson took the lead over Denny Hamlin in the closing laps of the 319-lap race at Phoenix and secured his team's 15th championship title.

Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR.

Edited by Karan Yadav