The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series has begun with its initial races, including the preliminary Cook Out Clash exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium, all aired live on Fox. Despite the majority of Fox’s season-opening events being broadcast on Fox Sports 1 under the new media rights agreement involving Fox, NBC, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video, this weekend’s race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) will deviate from that pattern.
Fox’s share of the schedule was scaled back to 14 races from the previous 18 in 2025, with eight events slated for Fox Sports 1 during this portion of the season. However, the race at COTA is not included among those on Fox Sports 1’s live broadcast lineup.
Details on the COTA Race Broadcast Arrangement
The DuraMAX Grand Prix at COTA on Sunday will be aired live on Fox instead of Fox Sports 1, aligning it with other key events such as the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and the recent race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which has been renamed EchoPark Speedway. This race will use a revised 17-turn, 2.4-mile road course in Austin, Texas, which replaced the previous 20-turn layout that was used from 2021 through 2024.
Following the COTA race, no additional events are scheduled to be broadcast live on Fox until April, when races at Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway take place. The Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway next Sunday marks the first Fox Sports 1 live points race of the season following these changes.
From Phoenix onward through mid-May, leading to the season’s relocated All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, only the events at Kansas and Talladega remain on Fox’s live broadcast schedule, with all others appearing on Fox Sports 1.
Broadcast Team and Schedule Highlights
The commentary team remains consistent regardless of whether the race is on Fox or Fox Sports 1. Mike Joy takes the lead as announcer, accompanied by analysts Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. Their consistent presence provides continuity across both broadcast platforms.
Fox’s live telecast of the DuraMAX Grand Prix at COTA is set to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8, allowing fans to watch the 95-lap contest unfold on the road course.
Implications for NASCAR Viewership and Fans
This broadcast schedule adjustment reflects the evolving distribution of NASCAR Cup race broadcasts across multiple networks and platforms. By keeping marquee events like the COTA race on Fox’s main channel, NASCAR and its media partners may be aiming to maintain broader audience reach for significant contests. Meanwhile, Fox Sports 1 continues to handle many other points races, offering expanded coverage options for dedicated viewers.
Looking ahead, fans will want to note these channel distinctions when planning to watch events, especially with the variety of points races scheduled on both Fox and Fox Sports 1 through the spring segment of the season.
