What channel is the NASCAR race on today? What time does the NASCAR race start? Race fans ask those questions every weekend during the NASCAR Cup Series season. During the first half of the 2021 season, the answer will begin with Fox or FS1.
On Sunday, Feb. 14, Fox will air NASCAR's showcase event, the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The 63rd running of the Great American Race will also be the opening race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
MORE: Follow the latest Daytona 500 weather updates
With track attendance this year limited to around 30,000 because of COVID-19 protocols, being able to watch the race live on television takes on greater importance. Fortunately for fans, there will be multiple ways to do that.
Below is all you need to know to watch the 2021 Daytona 500, including the TV channel, start time and live stream info.
MORE: Watch the Daytona 500 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
What channel is the Daytona 500 on today?
- TV channel: Fox (TSN in Canada)
- Live stream: Fox Sports Go, fuboTV
- Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Fox will provide flag-to-flag coverage of the 63rd Daytona 500. The network is beginning its 21st season covering the NASCAR Cup Series, and this year's race will be the 18th for Fox Sports.
Below are the 40 largest U.S. television designated market areas, or DMAs, according to Nielsen Global Media, and the Fox affiliate in each market area:
| Market | Fox affiliate (digital/virtual channel) |
| New York | WNYW (5) |
| Los Angeles | KTTV (11) |
| Chicago | WFLD (32) |
| Philadelphia | WTXF (29) |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | KDFW (4) |
| San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose | KTVU (2) |
| Atlanta | WAGA (5) |
| Houston | KRIV (26) |
| Washington, D.C. | WTTG (5) |
| Boston | WFXT (25) |
| Phoenix | KSAZ (10) |
| Seattle-Tacoma | KCPQ (13) |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg | WTVT (13) |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | KMSP (9) |
| Detroit | WJBK (2) |
| Denver | KDVR (31) |
| Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne | WOFL (35) |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale | WSVN (7) |
| Cleveland-Akron | WJW (8) |
| Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto | KTXL (40) |
| Portland, Ore. | KPTV (12) |
| Charlotte | WJZY (46) |
| St. Louis | KTVI (2) |
| Raleigh-Durham | WRAZ (50) |
| Indianapolis | WXIN (59) |
| Pittsburgh | WPGH (53) |
| San Diego | KSWB (69) |
| Baltimore | WBFF (45) |
| Nashville | WZTV (17) |
| Salt Lake City | KSTU (13) |
| San Antonio | KABB (29) |
| Hartford-New Haven | WTIC (61) |
| Columbus, Ohio | WTTE (28) |
| Kansas City | WDAF (4) |
| Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville | WHNS (21) |
| Cincinnati | WXIX (19) |
| Milwaukee | WITI (6) |
| Austin | KTBC (7) |
| West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce | WFLX (29) |
| Las Vegas | KVVU (5) |
Calling the race will be play-by-announcer Mike Joy and analysts Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Larry McReynolds. This will be Joy's 42nd Daytona 500, counting his TV and radio work. Bowyer is in his first season in the Fox booth after retiring from full-time racing last year.
The network will employ three pit reporters: Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Vince Welch.
The "NASCAR RaceDay" prerace show will begin on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET and then move to Fox at 1 p.m. ET. Chris Myers and Shannon Spake will host, while Gordon, Bowyer, McReynolds, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte and Tom Rinaldi will provide additional coverage.
MORE: Will rain in forecast disrupt 2021 race?
What time does the Daytona 500 start today?
Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR lists 2:30 as the race's start time, but televised prerace ceremonies will likely push the drop of the green flag back to around 3 p.m. ET.
Daytona 500 live stream
Streaming options for the Daytona 500 abound. AT&T TV, fuboTV, Hulu, Sling, Vidago, TVision and YouTube TV all carry Fox. You can watch the race free on fuboTV if you sign up for a seven-day trial.
Anyone with a cable or satellite subscription can watch Fox's live broadcast of the Daytona 500 via Fox Sports Go.
NASCAR Cup Series 2021 TV schedule
Regular season
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Feb. 14 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| Feb. 21 | O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona | Daytona Road Course | 3 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| Feb. 28 | Dixie Vodka 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| March 7 | Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Fox | PRN |
| March 14 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Phoenix | Phoenix Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| March 21 | Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | Fox | PRN |
| March 28 | Food City Dirt Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | Fox | PRN |
| April 10 | Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| April 18 | Toyota Owners 400 | Richmond Raceway | 3 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| April 25 | GEICO 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | Fox | MRN |
| May 2 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Kansas | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| May 9 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Darlington | Darlington Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| May 16 | Drydene 400 | Dover International Speedway | 2 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| May 23 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at COTA | Circuit of the Americas | 2:30 p.m. | FS1 | PRN |
| May 30 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 6 p.m. | Fox | PRN |
| June 6 | Toyota/Save Mart 350 | Sonoma Raceway | 4 p.m. | FS1 | PRN |
| June 13 | NASCAR All-Star Open | Texas Motor Speedway | 6 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| June 13 | NASCAR All-Star Race | Texas Motor Speedway | 8 p.m. | FS1 | MRN |
| June 20 | Ally 400 | Nashville Superspeedway | 3:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN |
| June 26 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono-1 | Pocono Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| June 27 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono-2 | Pocono Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| July 4 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Road America | Road America | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| July 11 | Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | NBCSN | PRN |
| July 18 | Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | PRN |
| Aug. 8 | Go Bowling at The Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| Aug. 15 | Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard powered by Florida Georgia Line | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course | 1 p.m. | NBC | IMS |
| Aug. 22 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| Aug. 28 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | 7 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
Playoffs Round of 16
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Sept. 5 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 6 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| Sept. 11 | Federated Auto Parts 400 | Richmond Raceway | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| Sept. 18 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | PRN |
Playoffs Round of 12
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Sept. 26 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | PRN |
| Oct. 3 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Oct. 10 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course | 2 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
Playoffs Round of 8
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Oct. 17 | Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| Oct. 24 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | MRN |
| Oct. 31 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
Playoffs Championship 4
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Nov. 7 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC | MRN |