What Time Does the
NASCAR Race Start Today?
There is no Cup race on August 2. NASCAR returns at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, August 9 at 3:30 PM ET on USA Network, with streaming on HBO Max and radio coverage from MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
What Time Does the
NASCAR Race Start Today?
No Cup race today. Iowa is next on August 9 at 3:30 PM ET.
There is no NASCAR Cup Series race today, Sunday, August 2, 2026. The Cup Series is taking an off weekend after Corey Heim won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis on July 26. The next race is the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, August 9 at 3:30 PM ET. It airs on USA Network, streams on HBO Max, and is available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This guide keeps the original layout but updates every time-sensitive section for the current USA Sports portion of the 2026 season. It includes Iowa race-day details, weekend session times, the updated three-series schedule, current streaming options, the remaining major Cup start times, and the correct television assignments after the TNT summer window.
Next NASCAR Race Day Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | NASCAR Cup Series |
| Race | Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol |
| Start Time | 3:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM CT / 12:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM UTC |
| Primary Channel | USA Network |
| Location | Iowa Speedway — Newton, Iowa |
| Live Stream | HBO Max · supported live-TV services carrying USA Network |
| Radio | MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 |
The next Cup green flag is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET on Sunday, August 9. Iowa is in the Central Time Zone, so the local start is 2:30 PM CT. West Coast viewers should tune in at 12:30 PM PT. The race begins the final 14-event USA Sports stretch of the 2026 Cup season.
Iowa Speedway is a 0.875-mile short oval known for progressive banking and multiple usable grooves. The compact layout creates heavy traffic, frequent tire-management decisions, and short pit-road timing windows. The scheduled race distance is 350 laps.
The listed time is the television start window, not a guarantee that the green flag will fall at the exact minute. Pre-race ceremonies, weather, track drying, or operational delays can move the actual start. Check NASCAR’s official race-day updates before the broadcast.
What Channel Is the NASCAR Race On?
The next Cup race at Iowa airs on USA Network. NASCAR has now moved out of the five-race TNT Sports summer window and into the season-closing USA Sports package. The final 14 races are split between USA Network and NBC, with selected streaming coverage on HBO Max or Peacock depending on the event.
For Iowa, tune to USA Network at 3:30 PM ET. Fans without cable can use a live-TV streaming service that includes USA Network or watch through HBO Max. Radio coverage is available from MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
For quick updates, use the race-specific NASCAR channel guide and NASCAR channel-today tracker.
The TNT portion of the schedule ended at Indianapolis. Iowa begins the USA Sports run that carries NASCAR through the regular-season finish and the 10-race Chase.
How to Watch the NASCAR Race Live
For Iowa, the direct streaming option is HBO Max. Viewers can also watch USA Network through a participating live-TV service. Later NBC races can be available over the air with an antenna and may also stream through Peacock.
A live-TV package with USA Network and NBC covers most remaining Cup races. Add HBO Max for the Iowa stream and Peacock for eligible NBC events. A digital antenna remains useful for free local NBC broadcasts.
Full Iowa Weekend Schedule
Iowa Speedway hosts the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series during the August 8–9 weekend. The Craftsman Truck Series does not race at Iowa and returns at Richmond.
The O’Reilly race starts Saturday at 5:00 PM ET on The CW. Cup practice and qualifying follow earlier in the afternoon, and the Cup race closes the weekend Sunday at 3:30 PM ET.
Remaining 2026 Cup Start Times
| Track | 2026 Start Time (ET) | Day / Night | Primary Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Speedway | Aug. 9 — 3:30 PM | Day | USA Network |
| Richmond Raceway | Aug. 15 — 7:00 PM | Night | USA Network |
| New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Aug. 23 — 3:00 PM | Day | USA Network |
| Daytona International Speedway | Aug. 29 — 7:30 PM | Night | NBC |
| Darlington Raceway | Sept. 6 — 5:00 PM | Evening | USA Network |
| World Wide Technology Raceway | Sept. 13 — 3:00 PM | Day | USA Network |
| Bristol Motor Speedway | Sept. 19 — 7:30 PM | Night | USA Network |
| Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Oct. 4 — 5:30 PM | Evening | USA Network |
| Martinsville Speedway | Nov. 1 — 2:00 PM | Day | NBC |
| Homestead-Miami Speedway | Nov. 8 — 3:00 PM | Day | NBC |
Iowa begins the final four regular-season events. Richmond and New Hampshire follow before the Daytona night race sets the 16-driver Chase field. The 10-race championship begins at Darlington and ends at Homestead-Miami on November 8.
Starting Lineup, Qualifying & Stage Racing
Cup qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at 3:10 PM ET. The session sets the starting order for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350. Because Iowa is short and passing can become difficult in traffic, a strong qualifying position can reduce early-race risk and improve pit-stall selection.
When qualifying is cancelled, NASCAR uses its metric based on recent performance and points information to establish the field. The complete grid is normally posted after Saturday’s session. Read what pole position means and how NASCAR qualifying works for more background.
How Stage Racing Affects Iowa
The 350-lap race is divided into three stages. Drivers can score points at the end of the first two stages as well as at the finish. On a short oval, stage cautions also create major pit-strategy decisions because track position can be more valuable than fresh tires in certain conditions.
Follow the 2026 NASCAR points standings as the regular season approaches its final four races. The latest NASCAR winner page currently lists Corey Heim as the Brickyard 400 winner.
At Iowa, the published 3:30 PM ET start time is only the beginning of the planning. Teams build practice, qualifying, pit-stall preparation, driver routines, and race strategy around the full television weekend.
— World of Speed Race-Day GuideFrequently Asked Questions
The next NASCAR start-time answer
No Cup race is scheduled for August 2. NASCAR returns Sunday, August 9 at Iowa Speedway, with the Iowa Corn 350 beginning at 3:30 PM ET on USA Network and HBO Max.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races Saturday at 5:00 PM ET on The CW, while Cup practice and qualifying are also scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
