NASCAR Announces Start Times for 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2017) – Together with FOX, NBC, race teams and tracks, NASCAR today unveiled 2018 race start times and network coverage for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, including the DAYTONA 500® on FOX and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship on NBC.

As noted in the previously released schedule dates, key changes include the return of the DAYTONA 500 to President’s Day weekend for the historic 60th running of The Great American Race®. Additionally, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will begin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway® and include the Charlotte Motor Speedway® road course as part of the first round.

“Feedback from our fans, along with insight from teams, tracks and our broadcast partners was key to identifying the most ideal start time for each race,” said Steve Herbst, senior vice president, broadcasting and production at NASCAR. “Every race weekend is unique, so considering fan and industry input alongside each event’s nuances allows us to balance interests on all sides.”

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season officially returns on February 18 with the DAYTONA 500. Tune-in at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, or visit NASCAR.com/tickets to catch all the action in-person.

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

Date Location Network Race Start Radio
2/11 Daytona 500 Qualifying at

Daytona International Speedway

FOX 12 p.m. ET MRN
2/11 The Clash at

Daytona International Speedway

FS1 3 p.m. ET MRN
2/15 The Duel at

Daytona International Speedway

FS1 7 p.m. ET MRN
2/18 DAYTONA 500 at

Daytona International Speedway

FOX 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
2/25 Atlanta Motor Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET PRN
3/4 Las Vegas Motor Speedway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET PRN
3/11 Phoenix Raceway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET MRN
3/18 Auto Club Speedway FOX 3:30 p.m. ET MRN
3/25 Martinsville Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
4/8 Texas Motor Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET PRN
4/15 Bristol Motor Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET PRN
4/21 Richmond International Raceway FOX 6:30 p.m. ET MRN
4/29 Talladega Superspeedway FOX 2 p.m. ET MRN
5/6 Dover International Speedway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
5/12 Kansas Speedway FS1 8 p.m. ET MRN
5/19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FS1 6 p.m. ET MRN
5/19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FS1 8 p.m. ET MRN
5/27 Charlotte Motor Speedway FOX 6 p.m. ET PRN
6/3 Pocono Raceway FS1 2 p.m. ET MRN
6/10 Michigan International Speedway FOX 2 p.m. ET MRN
6/24 Sonoma Raceway FS1 3 p.m. ET PRN
7/1 Chicagoland Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
7/7 Daytona International Speedway NBC 7 p.m. ET PRN
7/14 Kentucky Speedway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET PRN
7/22 New Hampshire Motor Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET PRN
7/29 Pocono Raceway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/5 Watkins Glen International NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/12 Michigan International Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
8/18 Bristol Motor Speedway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET PRN
9/2 Darlington Raceway NBCSN 6 p.m. ET MRN
9/9 Indianapolis Motor Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET IMS
9/16 Las Vegas Motor Speedway NBCSN 3 p.m. ET PRN
9/22 Richmond International Raceway NBCSN 7:30 p.m. ET MRN
9/30 Charlotte Motor Speedway NBC 2 p.m. ET PRN
10/7 Dover International Speedway NBCSN 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/14 Talladega Superspeedway NBC 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/21 Kansas Speedway NBC 2 p.m. ET MRN
10/28 Martinsville Speedway NBCSN 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
11/4 Texas Motor Speedway NBCSN 3 p.m. ET PRN
11/11 Phoenix Raceway NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN
11/18 Homestead Miami Speedway NBC 2:30 p.m. ET MRN

 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Sources: Chelcee Coffman/NASCAR, Integrated Marketing Communications