What time does the NASCAR race start today? TV schedule, channel for Texas playoff race

Tom Gatto

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What time does the NASCAR race start today? TV schedule, channel for Texas playoff race image

For anyone who's asking "What time is the NASCAR race today?" the answer is that the race is slated for a daytime start.

The Cup Series is at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500, the first race in the Round of 8 and the seventh race in the 2021 playoffs. The 334-lap, 501-mile event on Texas' 1.5-mile oval will take place not long after midday local time.

NASCAR scheduled the majority of its 2021 Cup Series races for the afternoon. All four remaining playoff races, including Sunday, are scheduled to begin in the daytime.

Below is all you need to know about the schedule for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway:

MORE: Watch today's NASCAR race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

What time does the NASCAR race start today?

  • Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 17
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET (TV time)

The green flag for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race on Texas Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile intermediate track is scheduled to drop at 2:08 p.m. ET (1:08 p.m. CT) Sunday. The track has lights, so the race can finish after sunset if there is a lengthy delay.

TEXAS LINEUP: Starting order, pole without qualifying

The race is expected to run under ideal weather conditions, however. The National Weather Service's Sunday forecast for Fort Worth, Texas, is for mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 75 degrees. Winds will be calm to light.

What channel is NASCAR on today?

  • TV channel: NBC (TSN in Canada)
  • Live stream: NBC Sports.com | NBC Sports App | Peacock | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
  • Radio: PRN

NBC's programming will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET with the "Countdown to Green" prerace show hosted by Marty Snider with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Daugherty. Rick Allen will handle the play-by-play call of the race. Earnhardt, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will provide analysis.

Snider, Kelli Stavast and Parker Kligerman will be the pit reporters. Daugherty will contribute additional reporting trackside.

NASCAR live stream for Texas race

Anyone who has a cable or satellite subscription can stream Sunday's NASCAR race at Texas live via NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports App.

For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are five over-the-top (OTT) TV streaming options that carry NBC and NBCSN — AT&T TV, fuboTV, Hulu, Sling and YouTubeTV.

Below are links to each:

NBC has added another streaming element as NASCAR's playoffs draw to a close. The network's premium streaming service, Peacock, will show Sunday's race as well. This will be the first NASCAR race to be streamed on Peacock.

NASCAR Cup Series 2021 schedule

Below is the remaining schedule for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, starting with Sunday's Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas, the first race in the Round of 8.

NASCAR Cup Series 2021 playoffs Round of 8

Date Race Track Time (ET) TV Radio
Oct. 17 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Texas Motor Speedway 2 p.m. NBC PRN
Oct. 24 Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas Speedway 3 p.m. NBCSN MRN
Oct. 31 Xfinity 500 Martinsville Speedway 2 p.m. NBC MRN

NASCAR Cup Series 2021 playoffs Championship 4

Date Race Track Time (ET) TV Radio
Nov. 7 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Phoenix Raceway 3 p.m. NBC MRN

MORE: NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, explained

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.