# 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship: Race Preview and Viewing Guide The season finale returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway this Sunday with Kyle Larson leading the standings. - **Source:** [TVLine](https://tvline.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7936d3bb-7990-4c51-905d-69cea3cc296c ## Season Finale Returns Home The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship takes place this Sunday, November 8, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This event marks the first time the season finale has returned to the Florida track since 2019. From 2020 through 2025, the championship race was consistently held at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. ## Championship Contenders and Stakes Kyle Larson enters the final race as the clear favorite, holding a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell and a 70-point lead over Denny Hamlin. To secure their first Cup Series title, the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers must deliver a perfect performance to overcome Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro. ## Playoff Path to Finale The road to this championship included two major playoff races. The YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, occurred on October 25 with a slim margin of victory. Subsequently, racers competed in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia on November 1, which saw a much wider finishing gap. ## Broadcast and Streaming Access The race begins at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and 12 p.m. Pacific Time. Viewers can watch the live broadcast on NBC. Digital access is available through the NBC Sports app, the official NBC website, Peacock, and various internet-based live TV services, provided users have the necessary cable credentials or active subscriptions. ## Free Trial Streaming Options Fans without cable can access the race via streaming services offering free trials. DirecTV provides a five-day trial for its packages, while Fubo offers a similar five-day window. YouTube TV also features a trial period ranging from five to 21 days, allowing viewers to watch the championship event at no cost. ## Historical Venue Context Homestead-Miami Speedway served as the championship hub from 2002 until 2019. Before that era, the final race of the season rotated between various venues, including Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway. The league’s history dates back to 1949, when it originated as the Strictly Stock Division of racing. ## Future Scheduling Strategy NASCAR is shifting its championship strategy starting next year. The organization plans to rotate the championship weekend between several selected tracks. This approach aims to bring the live festivities to different venues and fan bases annually, mirroring the rotating host city model famously utilized by the NFL’s Super Bowl event. ## Operational Flexibility and Legacy The sanctioning body maintains the authority to adjust schedules, as evidenced by the 2020 pandemic-related shifts. Despite these logistical changes, the Cup Series maintains a 75-year legacy. As the 2026 season concludes, the focus remains on whether the current points leaders can withstand the pressure of this high-stakes final race. ## Sources covering this story - [TVLine — How To Watch The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship](https://www.tvline.com/2309271/how-watch-2026-nascar-cup-series-championship/) - [Rolling Stone — NASCAR Cup Series Championship: How to Watch Online for Free](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/stream-nascar-cup-series-championship-race-online-free-2026-1235653705/) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._