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The NASCAR Cup Series Playoff is in its final stretch, with just four races left. The Chase will head down to the desert this weekend for the Freeway Insurance 500.
With the season winding down, there are limited opportunities to make up ground in the championship standings. Phoenix Raceway is a one mile oval with lots of tight corners, forcing drivers to balance speed with time management. Of course, a track like this can create lots of possibilities for thrilling position changes.
After an exciting win at Charlotte last weekend, Chase Briscoe is heading to Phoenix with a lot of momentum. Kyle Larson still remains the top dog though, leading the Chase standings after two solid wins in Illinois and Kansas City.
Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell are other drivers to watch out for in Arizona.
Here's everything you need to know about the Freeway Insurance 500, including TV channel and streaming options for the NASCAR playoff race.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV channel: USA Network
- Live stream: DIRECTV
The 2026 Freeway Insurance 500 will be broadcast nationally on USA Network.
Cord-cutters and fans without cable can also stream the action live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial for all new users.
Freeway Insurance 500 start time
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 18
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
The 2026 Freeway Insurance 500 will get started at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18. The race will take place at Phoenix Raceway.
Freeway Insurance 500 radio channel
- Radio station: SiriusXM channel 90
Fans can tune into the Freeway Insurance 500 on the radio with SiriusXM. The broadcast can be found on channel 90.
The SiriusXM Sports Pass allows fans to listen to live game broadcasts of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college football and basketball, the PGA Tour, NASCAR and more. Get your first month of the SiriusXM Sports Pass for free, then pay just $5 a month or $49 for a year.
NASCAR Cup Series schedule 2026
(All times Eastern)
| Feb. 4 | Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray | Bowman Gray Stadium | 6 p.m. | Ryan Preece |
| Feb. 12 | Duel 1 at Daytona | Daytona International Speedway | 7 p.m. | Joey Logano |
| Feb. 12 | Duel 2 at Daytona | Daytona International Speedway | 8:45 p.m. | Chase Elliott |
| Feb. 15 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway | 1:30 p.m. | Tyler Reddick |
| Feb. 22 | Autotrader 400 | EchoPark Speedway | 3 p.m. | Tyler Reddick |
| March 1 | DuraMax Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3:30 p.m. | Tyler Reddick |
| March 8 | Straight Talk Wireless 500 | Phoenix Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | Ryan Blaney |
| March 15 | Pennzoil 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 4 p.m. | Denny Hamlin |
| March 22 | Goodyear 400 | Darlington Raceway | 3 p.m. | Tyler Reddick |
| March 29 | Cook Out 400 | Martinsville Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Chase Elliott |
| April 12 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | Ty Gibbs |
| April 19 | AdventHealth 400 | Kansas Speedway | 2 p.m. | Tyler Reddick |
| April 26 | Jack Link's 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 3 p.m. | Carson Hocevar |
| May 3 | Wurth 400 | Texas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Chase Elliott |
| May 10 | Go Bowling at the Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. | Shane van Gisbergen |
| May 17 | All-Star Race | Dover Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | Denny Hamlin |
| May 24 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 6 p.m. | Daniel Suarez |
| May 31 | Cracker Barrel 400 | Nashville Superspeedway | 7 p.m. | Denny Hamlin |
| June 7 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 3 p.m. | Denny Hamlin |
| June 14 | Great American Getaway 400 | Pocono Raceway | 3 p.m. | Denny Hamlin |
| June 21 | Anduril 250 | Naval Base Coronado | 4 p.m. | Corey Heim |
| June 28 | Toyota/Save Mart 350 | Sonoma Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | Shane van Gisbergen |
| July 5 | eero 400 | Chicagoland Speedway | 6 p.m. | Chase Briscoe |
| July 12 | Quaker State 400 | EchoPark Speedway | 7 p.m. | Ryan Blaney |
| July 19 | Window World 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | 7 p.m. | Joey Logano |
| July 26 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. | Corey Heim |
| Aug. 9 | Iowa Corn 350 | Iowa Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Ty Gibbs |
| Aug. 15 | Cook Out 400 | Richmond Raceway | 7 p.m. | Joey Logano |
| Aug. 23 | Dollar Tree 301 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | Ryan Blaney |
| Aug. 29 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | Ryan Preece |
NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2026
(All times Eastern)
| Sept. 6 | Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 5 p.m. | Christopher Bell |
| Sept. 13 | Enjoy Illinois 300 | World Wide Technology Raceway | 3 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Sept. 19 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Sept. 27 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Oct. 4 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 5:30 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Oct. 11 | Bank of America 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Oct. 18 | Freeway Insurance 500 | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | USA, DIRECTV |
| Oct. 25 | Yellawood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, fubo |
| Nov. 1 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, fubo |
| Nov. 8 | Cup Series Championship Race | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 3 p.m. | NBC, fubo |
