NASCAR Chase at Talladega returns to NBC for first time in 20 years
NBC carries the Chase playoff race from Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for the first time in 20 years, with seven drivers within 60 points of the championship lead.
Why NASCAR is trending today
NASCAR is trending because the Chase playoff is back at Talladega Superspeedway, and for the first time in 20 years NBC is the network calling it. The Chase first aired on NBC in a run that lasted through 2006, and Sunday's broadcast starts a three-week stretch on NBC that also covers Martinsville on Nov. 1 and Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8, the final three races of the season.
The Chase replaced the old elimination playoff format this year and is in its second run. With three races left, seven drivers are separated by less than 60 points in the standings, which is why every lap at Talladega carries extra weight.
How to watch the Chase at Talladega
NBC's prerace coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday, with the green flag set for shortly after 2 p.m. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio have the race on radio.
The weekend built up over three days. Friday had Craftsman Truck Series qualifying at 12:30 p.m. on FS2 and the Truck race at 4 p.m. on FS1. Saturday had O'Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying at 11 a.m., Cup Series qualifying at 1 p.m. on truTV, and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 3:30 p.m. on CW. Forty cars are entered in Sunday's Cup race.
Points race coming down to the wire
Kyle Larson leads the standings at 2,370 points. Christopher Bell sits five points back at 2,365, and Chase Briscoe is 24 back at 2,346. Denny Hamlin trails by 31, Ryan Blaney by 40, Joey Logano by 44 and Tyler Reddick by 56. Austin Cindric, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez round out the group within range, with Suarez 188 points back.
Talladega already produced one surprise this season. On April 26, Carson Hocevar took the lead on the last lap of the 2.66-mile oval to earn the first Cup Series win of his career. Sunday marks the second Talladega race of the year.
What comes next
NBC's NASCAR stretch continues after Talladega with Martinsville on Nov. 1 and Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8 to close out the season. Those three races will decide who walks away with the championship, with seven drivers still bunched inside 60 points of the lead.
Facts per NBC Sports, NASCAR.com. Opinion is the taproom's.