Is there a NASCAR race today? Why NASCAR Cup Series is on two-week break

Nick Gray, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read

The NASCAR Cup Series is off for the next two weekends, an Olympic break that has taken place every four years over the last couple Summer Olympics.

With NBCUniversal's wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympics in Paris that began this week, that leaves little room for NASCAR racing on NBC, USA Network or other Comcast channels.

So NASCAR teams get a summer break, a rest before the final four regular season races and the 10-week playoff stretch through the fall.

Here's what to know about NASCAR's Olympic Break and the rest of the 2024 Cup Series season:

Why is NASCAR taking a two-week break?

NBC, USA Network and affiliated networks are televising the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games daily, with coverage throughout the day from July 25-Aug. 11.

Is NASCAR's Olympic break an annual occurrence?

No, despite some in the sport's desire to see more break time in season. In the new TV deal, NBC and its partners are set to televise the final 14 Cup Series races each season through 2031. It's possible the Olympic break returns in 2028, though the NBC portion of the schedule might start at about the same time as the Olympics' conclusion.

When will NASCAR return?

NASCAR will return on August 11 at Richmond Raceway, the day that the Olympics concludes in Paris, France. The Craftsman Truck Series will return on Aug. 10 at the same track. The Xfinity Series has an extra week off and will return on Aug. 17 at Michigan.

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 points standings

This season's winners (locked into playoffs)

Top 16 advance to playoffs

  • 1: Kyle Larson (4 wins, 28 playoff points, regular season points leader)

  • 2. Christopher Bell (3 wins, 24 playoff points)

  • 3. Denny Hamlin (3 wins, 21 playoff points)

  • 4. William Byron (3 wins, 16 playoff points)

  • 5. Ryan Blaney (2 wins, 12 playoff points)

  • 6. Tyler Reddick (1 win, 8 playoff points)

  • 7. Austin Cindric (1 win, 7 playoff points)

  • 8. Chase Elliott (1 win, 6 playoff points)

  • 9. Joey Logano (1 win, 6 playoff points)

  • 10. Brad Keselowski (1 win, 5 playoff points)

  • 11. Alex Bowman (1 win, 5 playoff points)

  • 12. Daniel Suarez (1 win, 5 playoff points)

Wild card playoff points standings

  • 13. Martin Truex Jr. (+108 ahead of Wallace)

  • 14. Ty Gibbs (+42)

  • 15. Chris Buescher (+17)

  • 16. Ross Chastain (+7)

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  • 17. Bubba Wallace (-7 points behind Chastain)

  • 18. Chase Briscoe (-83)

  • 19. Kyle Busch (-112)

  • 20. Todd Gilliland (-118)

NASCAR Cup Series schedule 2024: Remaining races

  • Aug. 11: Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway (5 p.m., USA Network)

  • Aug. 18: FireKeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway (1:30 p.m., USA Network)

  • Aug. 24: Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway (6:30 p.m., NBC)

  • Sept. 1: Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway (5 p.m., USA Network)Regular season finale

  • Sept. 8: Quaker State 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16

  • Sept. 15: Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen International (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16

  • Sept. 21: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway (6:30 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16

  • Sept. 29: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 12

  • Oct. 6: YellaWood 500, Talladega Superspeedway (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 12

  • Oct. 13: Bank of America Roval 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway road course (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 12

  • Oct. 20: South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1:30 p.m., NBC) Round of 8

  • Oct. 27: Untitled race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (1:30 p.m., NBC) Round of 8

  • Nov. 3: Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 8

  • Nov. 10: NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, Phoenix Raceway (2 p.m., NBC)

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Is there a NASCAR race today? Why NASCAR Cup Series is on 2-week break