Where To Watch Racing This Weekend
Formula 1 - Italian Grand Prix
Sunday, August 6 - 9 a.m. ET - ESPN
The traditional Italian Grand Prix at Monza, not to be confused with the additional race in Italy to be held at Mugello next weekend, has long been considered Ferrari's home race. Unfortunately, Ferrari will be starting this race from 13th and 17th, another qualifying struggle for a team that has seemed to lose control of their entire 2020 season with little to no hope of returning to race-winning form with their current car and team.
Ferrari's home track woes are to the direct benefit of Mercedes, who will yet again start a 2020 Formula 1 race with a front row lockout led by Lewis Hamilton. Strong runs by McLaren driver Carlos Sainz Jr. and Racing Point pilot Sergio Perez, however, will force Max Verstappen to start from fifth for Red Bull Racing, one row behind the third he had become accustomed to over recent weekends.
NASCAR Cup Series - Darlington
Sunday, September 5 - 6 p.m. ET - NBC
After months of doubleheaders and mid-week races, NASCAR finally caught up to its original schedule last weekend. The result is the entirety of the Cup Series playoffs being run as scheduled, with teams able to enjoy full weeks between races.
This weekend marks the first race of these playoffs, one of three races that will eventually lead to the cutting of teams 16th through 13th in the standings. Generally, this cut line is low enough that expected championship contenders like Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin aren't actually in any serious risk, but drivers like Austin Dillon, William Byron, and Cole Custer will be fighting hard to keep their seasons alive throughout these events.
Though two races were already run at Darlington earlier this season as part of NASCAR's catch-up plan after delays relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the race that will go down in the books as an official Southern 500. This also means that the field will be packed with the retro liveries and throwback promotions that have become a major component of this race over the past half-decade, a tradition unaffected by its new position as the opener of the NASCAR playoffs.
IMSA - Road Atlanta
Saturday, September 5 - 2:30 p.m. ET - NBC Sports Network
While the 10-hour Petit Le Mans may be IMSA's traditional final endurance crown jewel, this weekend's fill-in race at Road Atlanta is actually meant to replace another, the Six Hours of the Glen. That race wasn't held this season due to COVID-19 concerns in upstate New York, so a one-off six hour endurance race is being held at the traditional home of the Petit Le Mans instead. Because of the length of the race, live TV will join the event while it is already in progress.
Rescheduling quirks mean that IMSA is set to run well into November 2020, so this is still not a particularly major race for championship purposes. This is, however, an excellent opportunity for teams to test the endurance capabilities of their entries before Petit Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring later in the season, and to prepare in advance for a 24 Hours of Daytona that will come up very quickly after a relatively short offseason.
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