One year ago this week, Ross Chastain made history.
The Trackhouse Racing star was a newbie to the spotlight, having just picked up his first win in the Cup Series circuit in 2022. But with the lights at their brightest at Martinsville, Chastain shone.
The No. 1 car was strong throughout the day, getting himself inside the Top-10 deep in the final stage. But with Denny Hamlin in front of him — both in the playoff standings and in terms of track position — Chastain needed a miracle.
It was in that environment that the "Hail Melon" came to fruition. Chastain veered his car into the wall on the final lap before placing his foot firmly on the gas. Sparks emanated alongside the fence, intensifying as Chastain gained track position. In an instant, he went from 10th to 5th. In the process, he usurped Hamlin in the playoff standings a secured a momentous spot in the Championship 4.
All of that is to say, crazy things happen when the Cup Series goes to the Paperclip. And although Chastain isn't in the Round of 8 this time around, it very well could be another desperate playoff driver who could conjure up some last-minute magic on the asphalt. There's certainly a precedent for it.
MORE: Watch NASCAR at Martinsville live with Fubo (free trial)
With that, here's what you need to know about Sunday's race, the Xfinity 500, including start time and broadcast information.
What time does the NASCAR race start today?
- Date: Sunday, October 22
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
The Xfinity 500 has a listed start time of 2 p.m. ET., but pre-race festivities are expected to push the waving of the green flag closer to 2:15 p.m. ET.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV channel: NBC (U.S.) | TSN3 (Canada)
- Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
- Radio: MRN
Sunday's race will be broadcast on NBC in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the action on TSN3.
Veteran announcer Rick Allen will lead the race's lap-by-lap commentator. He'll be joined by former Cup Series stars Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as former Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.
Cord-cutters can follow the action on Peacock, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
NASCAR playoff schedule 2023
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Sept. 3 | Southern 500 (Kyle Larson) | Darlington Raceway | |||
| Sept. 10 | Hollywood Casino 400 (Tyler Reddick) | Kansas Speedway | |||
| Sept. 16 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Denny Hamlin) | Bristol Motor Speedway | |||
| Sept. 24 | AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (William Byron) | Texas Motor Speedway | |||
| Oct. 1 | YellaWood 500 (Ryan Blaney) | Talladega Superspeedway | |||
| Oct. 8 | Bank of America Roval 400 (A.J. Allmendinger) | Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval | |||
| Oct. 15 | South Point 400 (Kyle Larson) | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | |||
| Oct. 22 | 4EVER 400 (Christopher Bell) | Homestead-Miami Speedway | |||
| Oct. 30 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Nov. 6 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
Fans in Canada can watch all NASCAR races on TSN.
