These four services offer affordable ways to watch all of NASCAR’s events in the 2023–2024 season
How To Watch NASCAR Races
The best way to enjoy NASCAR is close-up, where you can cheer on your favorite racer and smell the burnt rubber. If that’s not possible, then there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the action from the comfort of your home.
NASCAR hosts 36 races in its premier Cup Series every year. There are many more events in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. You can catch all of these events (and more) when you sign up for fuboTV.
But that’s not the only way to get NASCAR content. We’ll go over the top four ways in this article, including a completely free option for watching some of the biggest races of the year.
What channels broadcast NASCAR events?
All of NASCAR’s biggest events are split between four different channels: FOX, NBC, FOX Sports 1 (FS1), and USA Network. Here’s a quick breakdown of what events you can catch on each one of these channels. (You can check out a full schedule on NASCAR’s website.)
FOX
FOX will air 11 of the big Cup Series races this year, including the Busch Light Clash and the Daytona 500. While the line-up of specific NASCAR events on FOX may change from year to year, it will always host several of the biggest races.
NBC
NBC has broadcast rights for 10 of this year’s biggest races, including the Chicago Street Race and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. The final six playoff races will also air on NBC. As with FOX, NBC broadcasts many of the biggest events every year.
FS1
FS1 doesn’t have as much NASCAR content as the main FOX network, but it does have rights to air eight Cup Series races this year, including the Duel at Daytona. It also broadcasts Craftsman Truck Series events, like the Toyota 200.
USA Network
USA Network boasts the most NASCAR content of any channel, airing 25 Cup Series and Xfinity Series races in 2023, including the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 and M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 races.
Occasionally, when there are weather delays or other scheduling conflicts, certain NASCAR races will air on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) and CNBC. So die-hard fans will want to make sure they have access to those channels too.
fuboTV: Best overall
With fuboTV, you’ll get every single NASCAR channel that you need to watch the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series this year (and in future years). You’ll also get plenty of other content to enjoy.
NASCAR on fuboTV
You won’t have to miss a single event if you sign up for fuboTV. You’ll get access to FOX, FS1, NBC, and USA Network. Double-check your local lineup before signing up because local FOX and NBC affiliates may not be available in certain markets.
fuboTV price and plans
You can choose from three different plans from fuboTV. Both of the English-language options have the channels you need to watch NASCAR. If you want the Latino package, you’ll get Fox Deportes, which airs many NASCAR events with Spanish-language commentary.
fuboTV is one of our favorite streaming services because it offers so much bang for your buck. Besides the NASCAR channels listed above, you’ll get premium channels like Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, Paramount Network, and NBA TV.
DIRECTV: Best for satellite subscribers
DIRECTV is the best satellite TV provider in the business. Subscribers will get access to every channel that airs NASCAR (and a whole lot more) with DIRECTV. Here’s what you need to know.
NASCAR content on DIRECTV
With any DIRECTV package, even the lower-tier ones, you will get all of the main NASCAR broadcasters, including FOX, NBC, USA Network, and FS1. That means you’ll have access to every major event in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series.
There may be certain markets where local FOX and NBC affiliates aren’t available, so be sure to double-check before you sign up.
DIRECTV plans and prices
DIRECTV’s prices are a little higher than some of the live TV streaming service alternatives, especially at the higher tiers.
One of the biggest downsides to going with DIRECTV's satellite packages for NASCAR viewing is that you’ll be locked into a contract for two years. On the plus side, your price won’t go up during that two-year contract period.
Sling TV: Best value streamer
Sling TV has a unique way of structuring its channel offerings, which can be ideal for NASCAR fans. You can get all of the channels you need to catch the big races for just $40 a month.
NASCAR content on Sling TV
Sling TV’s channel lineup is divided into two different packages: Blue and Orange. While Sling Orange isn’t great for NASCAR fans, Sling Blue is perfect. It gives you every channel you need: FOX, NBC, FS1, and USA Network.
NASCAR plans and prices
If you’re only getting Sling TV to watch NASCAR, then you can just go with the $40-a-month Sling Blue package. But if you want some more great channels (like Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, and Disney Channel) for when you’re not watching cars zoom around a track, then the Sling Orange + Blue is a solid deal.
TV Antenna: Best free option
Maybe you remember the good ol’ days, when you fuddled with the bunny ears on top of your old boxy TV to tune into the nightly sit-coms? You didn’t have to sign up for some newfangled streaming service or pay out the nose for a cable subscription.
What if I told you that you could still get free TV content—including NASCAR races—with an antenna? You’d be pretty stoked right?
NASCAR content available with antenna
You can pick up local FOX and NBC affiliates with a TV antenna. With these two channels, you’ll get some of the biggest NASCAR races, like the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Plus, you’ll get six of the playoff races that will air live on NBC in the late season. And if you're into all things racing, a TV antenna is a great way to catch Formula 1 Races or the Tour de France too.
How to install an antenna
Indoor HD TV antennas are cheap. You can get a great one for under $30. They are easy to install. Just follow the instructions for your particular model (which usually involve plugging it in and mounting it to your wall by a window), and you’re good to go.
Local TV with an antenna offers more than just NASCAR. Many other popular sports events, like the Masters and the Super Bowl, will usually air on local CBS, NBC, or FOX affiliates. You also get access to local nightly news and plenty of sit-coms, like The Simpsons and Abbott Elementary.
Recap: What’s the best way to watch NASCAR?
There are many ways to pick up the main NASCAR broadcasters—FOX, FS1, NBC, and USA Network—but we think that fuboTV offers the most bang for your buck. But there are other good options too.
Here’s a quick recap of all the best ways to watch NASCAR.
- fuboTV: Best overall. You can get every single NASCAR broadcaster, plus a lot of other great TV channels, with fuboTV for a very reasonable price.
- DIRECTV: Best for cable subscribers. Those who prefer a classic cable subscription should make sure they’re using DIRECTV. It gets you access to all of the NASCAR channels plus so much more.
- Sling TV: Best value streamer. Sling TV’s Blue package gets you every channel that airs NASCAR races for just $40 a month. It’s an unbeatable deal.
- TV antenna: Best free option. You can watch NBC and FOX affiliates for free and without a subscription when you hook up an antenna to your TV.
How to watch NASCAR FAQ
You can watch NASCAR for free by getting a digital antenna and hooking it up to your TV to tune into your local FOX and NBC affiliates. Or you can take advantage of DIRECTV and fuboTV free trials to get access to FOX, NBC, FS1, and USA Network streams.
Yes. Hulu + Live TV gives you access to all of the channels that broadcast NASCAR races.