The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin this Sunday at historic Darlington Raceway in South Carolina this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network, while Alex Palou looks to clinch the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship at the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
| Date | Coverage | Platform | Time (ET) |
| Sat., Sept. 2 | NASCAR Xfinity Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | USA Network | 3:30 p.m. |
| Sun., Sept. 3 | INDYCAR BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland | NBC, Peacock | 3 p.m. |
| NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 | USA Network | 6 p.m. |
16 drivers make up the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field, led by regular-season champion Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron, who has a series-leading five wins this season. A victory by a playoff driver this Sunday at Darlington will automatically clinch them a spot in the Round of 12.
With only two races remaining in the season, Alex Palou is looking to close out his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the last three years. Palou leads Chip Ganassi Racing teammate and six-time series champ Scott Dixon by 74 points, following Dixon’s back-to-back wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and World Wide Technology Raceway. With a variety of points scenarios in play, Palou can clinch the 2023 season title if he leads Dixon by at least 55 points heading into the finale at Laguna Seca on Sept. 10.
Both the NASCAR Cup Series and NTT INDYCAR SERIES are enjoying ratings milestones across NBC Sports properties. This is currently NBC Sports’ most-watched NASCAR Cup Series year since 2017, and with two races remaining in the season, this is INDYCAR’s most-watched season since 2008.
NASCAR: CUP SERIES COOK OUT SOUTHERN 500 & XFINITY SERIES DIAMOND HILL PLYWOOD 200
The opening race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will be presented this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Countdown to Green begins pre-race coverage at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network with post-race immediately following the checkered flag.
Countdown to Green ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 gets underway Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, leading into race coverage at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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 stages 1 and 3 of the Cup Series and Xfinity Series race with lead NASCAR race announcer Rick Allen. Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Dave Burns will serve as pit reporters throughout the weekend.
Stage 2 of Sunday’s Cup Series race will feature three of the most famous last names in NASCAR with Earnhardt Jr. joined by racing icon Kyle Petty and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett in the commentary booth.
Snider will anchor pre- and post-race studio coverage with Petty and Jarrett from the Peacock Pit Box on Saturday and Sunday.
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 2023 across NBC, Peacock and USA Network, culminating with the Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 4-5.
BROADCAST TEAM
- Analysts: Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Play by Play: Rick Allen
- Pit Reporters: Marty Snider, Kim Coon, Dave Burns
STUDIO COVERAGE TEAM
- Host: Marty Snider
- Analysts: Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty
HOW TO WATCH
- TV – USA Network
- Streaming – NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
| Date | Coverage | Platform | Time (ET) |
| Sat., Sept. 2 | NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice & Qualifying | NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app | 10:30 a.m. |
| NASCAR Cup Series Practice | NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app | Noon | |
| NASCAR Cup Series Practice & Qualifying | USA Network | 12:30 p.m. | |
| Dale Jr. Download – Ricky Rudd | USA Network | 2:30 p.m. | |
| Countdown to Green – NASCAR Xfinity Series | USA Network | 3 p.m. | |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | USA Network | 3:30 p.m. | |
| NASCAR America Post-Race | USA Network | 6 p.m. | |
| Sun., Sept. 3 | Countdown to Green – NASCAR Cup Series | USA Network | 5:30 p.m. |
| NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 | USA Network | 6 p.m. | |
| NASCAR America Post-Race – NASCAR Cup Series | USA Network | 10 p.m. |
NBC Sports PR
