The NASCAR Cup Series begins its 10-race Chase today with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Below are the verified broadcast times, where to watch or stream the race, and what to expect from pre-race coverage.
- The 2026 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington starts at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 6.
- USA Network will broadcast the race; HBO Max carries the official streaming feed.
- MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio provide live radio coverage; pre-race on USA Network begins around 4:30 p.m. ET.
When and where: start time and race details
The Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The event runs 367 laps around Darlington’s 1.366-mile oval (about 501 miles) with stage breaks after Laps 115 and 230. Several sources report the green flag is expected shortly after the scheduled start time, around 5:10 p.m. ET.
TV, streaming and radio options
- Television: USA Network will carry the live television broadcast of the Southern 500. Multiple outlets confirm USA Network is the national TV home for the race.
- Streaming: HBO Max is listed by NASCAR and major sports publications as the official streaming option for the USA Network broadcast.
- Radio: MRN (Motor Racing Network) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide radio coverage for listeners who prefer live audio.
Pre-race coverage and practical viewing tips
USA Network’s pre-race programming is reported to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET in most schedules. If you plan to stream, check that your HBO Max subscription is active and that your streaming package includes access to USA Network content if you use a live-TV service. Cord-cutters can access USA Network through services that carry the channel; Sporting News and other outlets list YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling (Blue) and DirecTV among common options that carry USA Network.
Race context and quick facts
- This race marks the opening event of the 2026 Cup Series Chase (the 10-race postseason for the series), with 16 drivers competing for the championship over the coming weeks.
- The Southern 500 is a long-standing Labor Day weekend fixture at Darlington Raceway; the 2026 running is commonly reported as a roughly 501-mile endurance test on the historic, 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval.
- Pre-race reporting noted that Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions were impacted by weather in some reports; starting lineups in such situations can be set according to NASCAR rule-book procedures if qualifying is canceled. One outlet states Tyler Reddick will start from the pole after qualifying was affected by weather.
What we verified and outstanding details
Multiple U.S.-based sports and news outlets, as well as NASCAR’s official coverage notes, consistently report the 5:00 p.m. ET start time, USA Network as the TV broadcaster and HBO Max as the streaming partner. Radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio is likewise confirmed across sources.
Some timing details — such as the precise moment the green flag will fall (widely reported as shortly after 5:00 p.m., for example around 5:10 p.m.) — are presented as expectations in the coverage rather than guaranteed clock times; local delays, weather or on-track incidents can push the green flag later. If qualifying or practice were canceled in your timing window, consult NASCAR’s official channels for any adjustments to the starting order.
Short timeline: today’s broadcast flow
- 4:30 p.m. ET — USA Network pre-race coverage begins (reported start time).
- 5:00 p.m. ET — Official scheduled start time for the Cook Out Southern 500 (national broadcast on USA Network).
- ~5:10 p.m. ET — Green flag expected, subject to change for track or weather conditions.
- MRN and SiriusXM provide live radio coverage for the duration of the event.
Why this matters to U.S. viewers
The Southern 500’s role as the Chase opener makes it the first of a 10-week stretch that will determine the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series champion. For fans, teams and broadcasters in the United States, the race signals the start of the championship push and sets the stage for a condensed, high-stakes run through September and October.
Need-to-know sources
This article synthesized verified reporting from NASCAR’s official preview and multiple U.S. sports outlets that published the race time, TV and streaming details. Where outlets presented slightly different phrasing about exact green-flag timing or noted weather impacts to practice/qualifying, those differences are noted above rather than reconciled into a single definitive minute-by-minute timetable.
“The Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.”
