Last Cup Series Playoff Spot to be Determined at Regular-Season Finale From Daytona

NBC Sports

With only one spot remaining in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, the regular-season finale will be presented this Saturday in primetime at historic Daytona International Speedway at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. NASCAR America post-race coverage will begin immediately following the checkered flag at 11 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. This will mark the third consecutive year that Daytona will host the final race of the regular season.

Kyle Larson won last weekend at Watkins Glen International for his second victory of the season. 15 drivers have won a race this season in the Cup Series, leaving a single open position for the playoffs with Ryan BlaneyMartin Truex Jr., and Bubba Wallace leading the list of drivers still looking to secure a spot in the playoffs. Blaney currently leads Truex Jr. by 25 points in the final playoff position.

Last weekend’s Cup Series race from Watkins Glen International averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.619 million viewers on USA Network, up 20% from last year’s race on NBCSN. Watkins Glen marked NBC Sports’ seventh consecutive Cup Series race and sixth consecutive USA Network Cup Series race with year-over-year viewership gains.

NASCAR race coverage from Daytona will begin Friday in primetime at 7 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green on USA Network, leading into the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. Four races remain in the 2022 Xfinity Series regular season. NBC Sports digital platforms will live stream all television coverage this weekend.

Due to local programming, the Cup Series race on Saturday will air on WBAL 11.2 MeTV in Baltimore, WKCF in Orlando, KTVK in Phoenix and WMOR in Tampa. Check local listings in Lancaster/Harrisburg (Pa.), Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Viewers in all markets can live stream the race on Peacock, NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app.

Two-time Daytona 500 Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., 21-time Cup Series race winner and “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton, and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte will serve as analysts for the Cup and Xfinity Series races this weekend from Daytona with lead NASCAR race announcer Rick AllenMarty SniderParker Kligerman and Dave Burns will serve as pit reporters.

NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr., both four-time winners at Daytona International Speedway with five combined Daytona 500 victories, will appear together at the front of the grid during Saturday’s Countdown to Green pre-race coverage. JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Brad Daugherty will join Jeff Burton and host Marty Snider anchoring coverage from the Peacock Pit Box.

NBC Sports’ Rutledge Wood will serve as a “CityView” reporter and share stories from Daytona Beach and the Streamline Hotel, commonly referred to as the birthplace of NASCAR, on Friday and Saturday.

NASCAR Xfinity standings leader Ty Gibbs joins this week’s The Dale Jr. Download episode premiering Thursday at 5 p.m. ET on Peacock and on Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET on USA Network following NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying and leading into NASCAR Cup Series qualifying.

The official home of the NASCAR Championship and Playoffs, NBC Sports will once again present the final 20 NASCAR Cup Series races and 19 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2022 across NBC, Peacock and USA Network, culminating with the Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5-6. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ 2022 NASCAR coverage.

NASCAR Pick ‘Em: NBC Sports’ free-to-play game, NASCAR Pick ‘Em, features a weekly contest for each NASCAR Cup Series race throughout the season. NASCAR Pick ‘Em is available for download now on the NBC Sports Predictor app powered by PointsBet (available in the App Store and Google Play Store).

Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane airs each Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The half-hour unscripted series will follow the over-the-top NASCAR lifestyle of Daytona 500 Champion Austin Dillon, along with wife Whitney, adorable son Ace, and best friends Paul and Mariel Swan. Featuring high-stakes races, hilarious adventures and heartwarming moments at home, Austin leans on his loved ones both on and off the track as he trains and competes in the NASCAR season.

BROADCAST TEAM

  • AnalystsDale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte
  • Play by PlayRick Allen
  • Pit ReportersMarty Snider, Parker KligermanDave Burns
  • “CityView” ReporterRutledge Wood

STUDIO COVERAGE TEAM

  • Host: Marty Snider
  • Analysts: Dale JarrettBrad Daugherty

HOW TO WATCH

  • TV – NBC, USA Network
  • Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
DateCoveragePlatformTime (ET)
Fri., Aug. 26NASCAR Xfinity Series QualifyingUSA Network3 p.m.
NASCAR Cup Series QualifyingUSA Network5 p.m.
Countdown to Green – NASCAR Xfinity SeriesUSA Network7 p.m.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-ColaUSA Network7:30 p.m.
NASCAR America Post-Race – NASCAR Xfinity SeriesUSA Network10 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 27NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400NBC, Peacock7 p.m.
NASCAR America Post-Race – NASCAR Cup SeriesPeacock11 p.m.

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