The TV channel for a NASCAR race is elusive enough in a normal season when Fox and FS1 trade broadcasts of Cup Series events through the first half of the schedule. The challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic make the "what channel is today's NASCAR race on" question even more understandable.
Tonight, for the fourth time in just 12 days, those who seek the TV channel for the NASCAR race will be doing so in order to watch a real, live event rather than a virtual competition. The Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the second of two Cup races at the track in a five-day span after Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, will broadcast live on FS1 with a start time of 7 p.m. ET after being delayed from Wednesday by rain.
MORE: Watch the Charlotte race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Thursday's race at Charlotte is the fourth in NASCAR's return on an altered, short-term schedule as it attempts to keep a 36-race slate intact for 2020. For now, with remaining doubt about how NASCAR can construct its schedule beyond June given differing restrictions on gatherings of people from state to state, the short-term schedule includes only a handful of tracks.
As for Thursday night's race at Charlotte, it was added to the Cup Series schedule as a replacement for the Sonoma race that was previously scheduled for June 14. In part because it takes place on a week night, the race is relatively short (312 miles, 208 laps), especially compared to Sunday's 600-mile event at the same track.
Below is how to watch Thursday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte, including the TV channel and live stream options.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- Race: Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Date: Thursday, May 28
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: Fox Sports Go | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
- Radio: PRN
Like the schedule itself, the TV channels for Cup Series races after June are up in the air. The Thursday night race at Charlotte, though, as well as two more Cup Series races currently on the schedule for May June, will broadcast live on FS1.
Thursday night's race at Charlotte will be the second Cup event shown on FS1 since NASCAR returned to live racing. Last week's Wednesday night race at Darlington also was shown on FS1. Sunday's Cup Series race at Bristol also will broadcast live on FS1 before the series returns to Fox for the June 7 race at Atlanta.
As is the case for all the Cup Series races on Fox and FS1 this season, Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon will call Thursday night's race at Charlotte. They will do so remotely from the Fox studio rather than the booth at the track.
What time does the NASCAR race start today?
- Date: Thursday, May 28
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET (7:25 p.m. ET green flag)
The Alsco Uniforms 500 was postponed to 7 p.m. ET on Thursday due to rain Wednesday in Charlotte. FS1's coverage is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, and the green flag is scheduled to wave at 7:25 p.m. ET.
More rain is predicted for the Charlotte area Thursday, so another delay is possible. The Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday had a 68-minute red flag due to a passing rain shower but was able to finish.
The only other night races currently on NASCAR's modified schedule are the mid-week Martinsville race on Wednesday, June 10 and the Homestead race Sunday, June 14.
NASCAR live stream for Charlotte race
Anybody who has a cable or satellite subscription can stream Thursday night's race at Charlotte live via Fox Sports Go. This should be the preferred route for a viewer who has such a subscription but isn't able to get in front of his or her TV.
For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are five OTT TV streaming options that carry FS1 — Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV, fuboTV and AT&T Now. Of the five, Hulu, YouTubeTV and fuboTV offer free trial options.
Below are links to each.
NASCAR schedule 2020
NASCAR on May 14 released its revised Cup Series schedule for May and June of 2020. It remains committed to running 36 races, four of which were completed before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sports world. According to Fox Sports, NASCAR hopes to keep its 10 playoff races in the fall intact and at their original tracks.
Below is the schedule revision for the Cup Series:
| Date | Track | Series | Distance | Stage lengths (laps) | TV channel | Start time |
| Sun., May 17 | Darlington | Cup | 400.2 miles | 90-95-108 | FOX | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Wed., May 20 | Darlington | Cup | 311.4 miles | 60-65-103 | FS1 | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Sun., May 24 | Charlotte | Cup | 600 miles | 100-100-100-100 | FOX | 6 p.m. ET |
| Wed., May 27 | Charlotte | Cup | 312 miles | 55-60-93 | FS1 | 8 p.m. ET |
| Sun, May 31 | Bristol | Cup | 266.5 miles | 125-125-250 | FS1 | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Sun, June 7 | Atlanta | Cup | 500 miles | 105-105-115 | FOX | 3 p.m. ET |
| Wed, June 10 | Martinsville | Cup | 263 miles | 130-130-240 | FS1 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Sun, June 14 | Homestead-Miami | Cup | 400 miles | 80-80-107 | FOX | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Sun, June 21 | Talladega | Cup | 500 miles | TBD | FOX | 3 p.m. ET |
(NASCAR warns that the stage lengths and start times for the races above are tentative and subject to change.)
To start, NASCAR is scheduling races within driving distance of the Charlotte area, where most race teams are headquartered. That eliminates most of the travel-related logistics issues associated with running multiple races in one week, which appears necessary for a full season of racing.
Because those tracks are hosting more races than originally scheduled, NASCAR had to take races away from Chicagoland, Richmond and Sonoma. Via NASCAR, below are the details of those changes:
— "Chicagoland’s NASCAR Cup Series race, originally set for June 21, has been reassigned to Darlington on May 17. The 1.5-mile Illinois track’s Xfinity Series race that was scheduled June 20 will be held May 19 at Darlington. Chicagoland was also set to host the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (June 19) and ARCA Menards Series (June 18); officials indicated that those races will be reassigned at a later date."
— "Richmond Raceway’s springtime Cup Series event on the initial schedule for April 19 has been moved to Darlington on May 20. A Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race that was to be run April 18 remains postponed, with officials saying details would come later for rescheduling. The .75-mile Virginia track’s Sept. 11-12 race weekend remains on the schedule."
— "Sonoma Raceway’s Cup Series date for June 14 has been moved to Charlotte on May 27. Officials for the road course said in a release that they had worked with NASCAR to find an alternate date on the schedule, but that a suitable replacement could not be reached, 'given the ongoing uncertainty around large events in California.'"
Below are the four NASCAR Cup Series races that are currently postponed (and their original dates on the schedule):
- Texas (March 29)
- Dover (May 3)
- Kansas (May 31)
- Michigan (June 7)