NASCAR: 2018 Cup Series TV schedule and times announced
By Alex Herbst
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series television schedule shows a couple of changes in time and station for races compared to 2017 events.
As the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule grinds to a close, the layout has already taken shape for the 2018 calendar. The already-revealed schedule of events for the new season includes shifting the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the end of the regular season, adding a 2nd race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway becoming a road course. Now, fans can find out what time and what network will have these races.
The sanctioning body announced on Monday the start times and networks for all 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. This includes both regular season and playoff races, with events split between FOX and NBC.
Fox Sports once again will cover the first half of the season from Daytona to Sonoma, with NBC Sports picking up at the beginning of July at Chicagoland. The peacock network then carries the load all the way to Homestead-Miami.
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Of the notable changes on the calendar, the start times may be the most significant. No races currently on the 2018 calendar will start earlier than 2:00 pm eastern time, with most starting between then and 3:30 pm eastern. Another key time change will be that Richmond Raceway’s second race, now a playoff race, will be the only night race in the ten-race run to the title. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s race will be a daytime road course race.
On the television side, a few races will switch networks among the NASCAR television partners. The spring Texas race will switch from a nighttime race on FOX to a Sunday day race on FS1. With that move, the June race at Michigan International Speedway will move to FOX. Meanwhile, NBC Sports will show races at Daytona, Watkins Glen, Charlotte, Talladega, Kansas, Phoenix, and Homestead on the main NBC channel. All other races in the second half of the year will be on NBCSN.
Here is the full 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series television schedule:
| Date | Location | Network | Race Start |
| 2/11 | Daytona 500 Qualifying at Daytona International Speedway | FOX | 12 p.m. ET |
| 2/11 | The Clash at Daytona International Speedway | FS1 | 3 p.m. ET |
| 2/15 | The Duel at Daytona International Speedway | FS1 | 7 p.m. ET |
| 2/18 | DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway | FOX | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 2/25 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | FOX | 2 p.m. ET |
| 3/4 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | FOX | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 3/11 | Phoenix Raceway | FOX | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 3/18 | Auto Club Speedway | FOX | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 3/25 | Martinsville Speedway | FS1 | 2 p.m. ET |
| 4/8 | Texas Motor Speedway | FS1 | 2 p.m. ET |
| 4/15 | Bristol Motor Speedway | FOX | 2 p.m. ET |
| 4/21 | Richmond Raceway | FOX | 6:30 p.m. ET |
| 4/29 | Talladega Superspeedway | FOX | 2 p.m. ET |
| 5/6 | Dover International Speedway | FS1 | 2 p.m. ET |
| 5/12 | Kansas Speedway | FS1 | 8 p.m. ET |
| 5/19 | Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway | FS1 | 6 p.m. ET |
| 5/19 | Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway | FS1 | 8 p.m. ET |
| 5/27 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | FOX | 6 p.m. ET |
| 6/3 | Pocono Raceway | FS1 | 2 p.m. ET |
| 6/10 | Michigan International Speedway | FOX | 2 p.m. ET |
| 6/24 | Sonoma Raceway | FS1 | 3 p.m. ET |
| 7/1 | Chicagoland Speedway | NBCSN | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 7/7 | Daytona International Speedway | NBC | 7 p.m. ET |
| 7/14 | Kentucky Speedway | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| 7/22 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 2 p.m. ET |
| 7/29 | Pocono Raceway | NBCSN | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 8/5 | Watkins Glen International | NBC | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 8/12 | Michigan International Speedway | NBCSN | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 8/18 | Bristol Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| 9/2 | Darlington Raceway | NBCSN | 6 p.m. ET |
| 9/9 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 2 p.m. ET |
| 9/16 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 3 p.m. ET |
| 9/22 | Richmond Raceway | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| 9/30 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NBC | 2 p.m. ET |
| 10/7 | Dover International Speedway | NBCSN | 2 p.m. ET |
| 10/14 | Talladega Superspeedway | NBC | 2 p.m. ET |
| 10/21 | Kansas Speedway | NBC | 2 p.m. ET |
| 10/28 | Martinsville Speedway | NBCSN | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 11/4 | Texas Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 3 p.m. ET |
| 11/11 | Phoenix Raceway | NBC | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| 11/18 | Homestead Miami Speedway | NBC | 2:30 p.m. ET |
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All races on Fox Sports will be streamed live on Fox Sports Go. All races on NBC Sports will be streamed live on the NBC Sports app and website. What races will you be tuning in for next season? Are you excited to see changes coming to the NASCAR playoff races in 2018?