NASCAR has shifted the start time of Sunday’s Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway to 1 p.m. Eastern, moving it two hours earlier than the originally scheduled 3 p.m. slot. The adjustment is intended to complete the 160‑lap, 400‑mile event before a line of thunderstorms is forecast to sweep through the Poconos later in the afternoon.
The schedule change was coordinated with the series’ new broadcast partner, Prime Video, which will carry the live feed. HBO Max will supplement the coverage with additional in‑car camera angles, while the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide the radio feed.
A race against the clock
Beyond the weather factor, the race holds added significance as the 16th points‑paying event of the 2026 season. Positioning on the leaderboard here can influence playoff seeding, making every stage point and stage win especially valuable for teams eyeing a postseason berth.
Pocono’s distinctive ‘Tricky Triangle’ layout — featuring a long, sweeping Turn 1, a tighter Turn 2 and a sharp Turn 3 — demands a delicate balance of entry speed, cornering precision and straightaway momentum. Crew chiefs must tailor aerodynamic and suspension settings to each corner, turning the event into a strategic chess match.
Veteran Denny Hamlin, who boasts a record seven Cup victories at the track and enters the weekend fresh off back‑to‑back wins at Nashville and Michigan, is among the early favorites. However, the outcome will likely hinge on tire management, pit‑road execution and the ability to adapt to evolving track conditions.