The television and radio rights to broadcast NASCAR are among the most expensive broadcast rights of any American sport, with the current television contract with Amazon Prime Video, CW Sports, Fox Sports, NBC/USA Sports and TNT Sports being worth around .

In the early days of NASCAR, sports programs like CBS Sports Spectacular and ABC Wide World of Sports would air video highlight packages of the races. These packages were typically 15 to 30 minutes long and were cut from film of the entire race, similar to video packages created by NFL Films. For major races like the Daytona 500, ABC Sports would show footage live for a certain number of laps at the beginning, then show the end of the race. A few races were shown in their entirety in the 1970s, but these were always recorded and shown days or weeks later.

In 1979, CBS Sports televised the 1979 Daytona 500 live from start to finish. With the introduction of ESPN in 1981, more races began being shown live in their entirety. Since 1992, all NASCAR races have been shown from start to finish, and all have been shown live since 1997. Until 2001, race tracks struck individual agreements with networks to broadcast races, but in order to capitalize on the growing popularity of the sport NASCAR announced in 1999 that television contracts would now be centralized; that is, instead of making agreements with individual tracks, networks would now negotiate directly with NASCAR for the rights to air a package of races.

Television

English language broadcast networks (over-the-air)

Current Fox: 2001–present NBC: 1964, 1979–1985, 1999–2006, 2015–present (Cup Series only since 2025) The CW: 2024–present (O'Reilly Series)

Former CBS: 1960, 1964, 1975–2000 ABC: 1961–1992, 1994–2000, 2007–2014

Spanish language networks Fox Deportes: 2013–present Telemundo: 2015–present Universo: 2015–present

English language cable/satellite networks Current FS1: 2013–present FS2: 2015–present Fox Business Network: 2016–present (primarily used as a backup should another sporting event run past its scheduled ending or for breaking news coverage on the main FOX network) CNBC: 2006, 2015–present (primarily used as a backup should another sporting event run past its scheduled ending or for breaking news coverage on the main NBC network) USA Network: 1982–1985, 2016, 2022–present (Cup Series only since 2025) TNT: 2001–2014, 2025–present (Cup Series only 2007-2014 and 2025-present) TruTV: 2025–present (Cup Series practice and qualifying only)

Former CNN/SI: 2001 ESPN: 1981–2002, 2007–2014 ESPN2: 1995–2002, 2007–2014 ESPN Classic: 2007–2010 ESPNEWS: 2011–2014 ESPN Deportes: 2013–2014 FNN-SCORE: 1988 Fox Sports Net: 2001 FX: 2001–2006 HDNet: 2005–2008 Prime: 1990–1992 Speed: 1998–1999, 2003–2013 SportsChannel America: 1990 TBS: 1983–2000 TNN: 1983, 1986, 1991–2000 Versus/NBCSN: 2010, 2015–2021 Viewer's Choice: 1988–1990 Jefferson-Pilot: 1985–1987 Mizlou: 1982–1985 MRN TV: 1979–1980 SETN: 1984–1988

English language streaming services Peacock: 2021–present (Cup Series only) HBO Max: 2025–present (Cup Series only) Amazon Prime: 2025–present (Cup Series only) ESPN (streaming service): 2026–present (Simulcasts of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races) FloRacing: 2022-present (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, Whelen Modified Tour, Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series)

Early years

One of the earliest telecasts of a NASCAR race was the 1960 Daytona 500, parts of which was presented as part of CBS Sports Spectacular, with announcer Bud Palmer.

Between that broadcast and 1979, there were three main sources of NASCAR telecasts: ABC's Wide World of Sports, the sports anthology program, provided coverage of select NASCAR Winston Cup races in the 1970s. In 1971, it presented a 200-lap race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in its entirety, the first such broadcast of a NASCAR race. Throughout the 1970s, ABC presented portions of the Daytona 500, Southern 500, and other important races. In the late 1970s, CBS Sports Spectacular aired some races; like Wide World of Sports, they were taped and edited. Car and Track, a weekly auto racing show hosted by Bud Lindemann, recapped all of NASCAR's top-series races in the 1960s and 1970s in a weekly 30-minute syndicated show.

The following table is a list of races from NASCAR's top three series that have been broadcast partially or in their entirety on television during the 1960s.

Race Number Race Date Race title Race Track Series Network Lap-by-Lap Commentator Analysts Pit Reporters Notes2 of 44February 12, 1960100 Mile Qualifying RacesDaytona International SpeedwayNASCAR Grand National DivisionCBSBud PalmerFirst ever NASCAR broadcast.3 of 44

YearNetworksLap-by-lapColor commentator(s)1969ABCBill FlemmingJim McKayChris Economaki1968ABCBill FlemmingChris Economaki1967ABCJim McKayBill FlemmingChris EconomakiFred Lorenzen1966ABC Curt GowdyJim McKayBill FlemmingRodger WardChris Economaki 1965ABC Bill FlemmingJim McKayDan GurneyChris EconomakiRodger Ward 1964ABC Bill FlemmingJim McKayChris Economaki1963ABC Bill FlemmingChris Economaki1962ABC Jim McKayBill FlemmingStirling MossChris Economaki1961ABCNASCAR Commentators Crews and Networks Bill FlemmingChris Economaki1960CBS Bud Palmer

1970s

YearNetworksLap-by-lapColor commentator(s)1979ABC Jim McKayAl MichaelsBill Flemming Jackie StewartSam PoseyCBS Ken Squier David HobbsLee PettyBrock Yates1978ABC Jim McKayAl MichaelsChris EconomakiJackie StewartCBS Ken Squier David Hobbs1977ABCJim McKayKeith JacksonAl MichaelsJackie StewartChris Economaki CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs 1976ABC Bill FlemmingJackie StewartCBS Ken SquierRichard PettyLee PettyBobby UnserNed Jarrett1975ABC Bill FlemmingJackie StewartCBS Ken SquierJohnny Rutherford 1974ABC Keith JacksonBill FlemmingJackie StewartChris Economaki1973ABC Jim McKayKeith JacksonBill FlemmingJackie StewartChris Economaki1972ABC Keith JacksonBill FlemmingChris EconomakiDonnie Allison 1971ABC Keith JacksonBill FlemmingJim McKayChris Economaki 1970ABC Bill FlemmingKeith JacksonJim McKayChris EconomakiNed Jarrett

1979–2000: Flag-to-flag coverage

CBS Sports President Neal Pilson and motor-sports editor Ken Squier believed that Americans would watch an entire stock car race live on television. On February 18, 1979, CBS presented the first flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500. Richard Petty won NASCAR's crown-jewel race for the sixth time, but more attention was drawn by the post-race fight on the track's infield between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, who crashed together on the final lap while leading. The race drew incredible ratings, in part due to the compelling action both on and off the track, and in part because a major snowstorm on the East Coast kept millions of viewers indoors.

As time passed, more Winston Cup races ended up on TV. ESPN broadcast its first race in 1981, from North Carolina Motor Speedway (its first live race was later in the year at Atlanta International Raceway), and TNN followed in 1991. All Cup races were nationally televised by 1985; networks struck individual deals with track owners, and multiple channels carried racing content. Many races were shown taped and edited on Wide World of Sports and syndication services like Mizlou and SETN, but almost all races were live by 1989. By 2000, the last year of this arrangement, six networks televised at least one Cup series race: CBS, ABC, ESPN, TNN, TBS, and NBC.

At the same time, a growing number of races in the Busch Grand National Series and NASCAR Truck Series were made available for broadcast, and some track owners even included support races in lesser series. Likewise, Winston Cup qualifying rounds aired on ESPN2 or regional sports network Prime Network.

NASCAR sought to capitalize on its increased popularity even more, so they decided that future deals would be centralized; that is, the networks would negotiate directly with NASCAR for a regular schedule of telecasts.

1980s

YearNetworksLap-by-lapColor commentator(s)1989ABCPaul PageBobby UnserSam PoseyBenny Parsons CBS Ken SquierNed JarrettChris EconomakiESPN Bob JenkinsNed JarrettBenny ParsonsTBSKen SquierJohnny HayesPhil ParsonsJoe RuttmanPPV Dave DespainLyn St. JamesGary Nelson 1988ABC Keith JacksonPaul PageJerry PunchJohnny Rutherford CBSKen SquierNed JarrettChris Economaki ESPN Bob JenkinsJerry PunchNed JarrettGary NelsonTBS Ken SquierJohnny HayesFNN/ScorePat PattersonBob Latford 1987ABC Jim LampleyKeith JacksonSam PoseyDonnie Allison CBS Ken SquierNed JarrettDavid HobbsESPNBob JenkinsLarry NuberLarry NuberJerry PunchTBS Ken SquierLake SpeedJohnny HayesBuddy Baker SETNEli GoldJerry Punch1986ABC Jim LampleySam PoseyCBS Ken SquierNed JarrettDavid HobbsNeil BonnettESPN Bob JenkinsLarry NuberJack AruteBenny ParsonsRick MearsMizlouSteve GradDick BrooksTBS Ken SquierBenny ParsonsPhil ParsonsTNN Steve EvansBrock YatesSETNMike JoyEli GoldJerry Punch 1985ABC Al TrautwigSam PoseyCBSKen SquierDavid HobbsNed JarrettESPN Bob JenkinsLarry NuberBenny ParsonsLarry NuberJack AruteMizlou Mike HogewoodDick BrooksTBS Ken SquierBenny ParsonsTNN Steve EvansBrock YatesSETN Mike JoyBenny Parsons Jefferson PilotMike JoyNeil BonnettKyle Petty1984ABC Jim LampleySam PoseyCBS Ken SquierNed JarrettDavid HobbsBenny ParsonsESPN Bob JenkinsLarry NuberJack AruteMizlou Mike JoyPhil ParsonsDonnie Allison TBSKen SquierGlenn JarrettPhil ParsonsMizlou Mike JoyPhil Parsons USA Ken SquierDavid Hobbs SETN Mike JoyBenny Parsons 1983ABC Bill FlemmingSam PoseyCBS Ken SquierDavid HobbsNed JarrettNBC Paul Page Johnny Rutherford ESPN Bob JenkinsLarry NuberMizlou Ken SquierPhil ParsonsBuddy BakerDonnie AllisonTBSKen SquierCale YarboroughGeoff BodineTNN Brock Yates Steve Evans1982ABCAl MichaelsSam PoseyJackie StewartCBS Ken SquierDavid HobbsESPN Bob JenkinsLarry NuberMizlou Rick BenjaminDick BrooksBuddy BakerUSA Ken SquierDavid Hobbs1981ABC Keith JacksonBill FlemmingJackie Stewart CBS Ken SquierDale EarnhardtDavid HobbsNed JarrettNBCPaul PageGary GerouldESPNBob JenkinsDave DespainMike JoyEli GoldLarry Nuber 1980ABCAl MichaelsJim McKayChris EconomakiJim LampleyJackie StewartSam PoseyJackie StewartCBSKen SquierDavid HobbsNBC Paul Page

1990s