“Get more streamlined”: Dale Earnhardt Jr. hoping for concrete NASCAR race time starts with $7.7B worth of media deal

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants NASCAR to adopt a scheduling approach like the NFL and start the races at a definite time every week. Currently, NASCAR race times vary to accommodate television broadcasting schedules.

However, with the new $7.7 billion media deal that NASCAR signed with Fox, NBC, Amazon, and Warner Bros, which starts in 2025 and will run for seven years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes there's a chance to make the schedule more uniform.

Rain has often delayed races and led to multiple overtimes, and some drivers argue that road courses also disrupt race schedules. According to Dale Earnhardt Jr., the inconsistent race times are confusing and inconvenient, not just for fans but for drivers as well. He expressed his frustration on his podcast, saying:

"Having to go and look and check on the app, 'Oh damn, this one’s 2:30, next week’s three, then the next week’s it’s 3:30.' I don’t know why that is, why the little discrepancy’s there." [at 30:13]

With the new media deal to be implemented from next year onward, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hopeful of a more consistent scheduling format for NASCAR races. He shared his thoughts on his podcast The Dale Jr. Download via X (formerly known as Twitter), saying:

"Since Amazon being a stream platform they have so much freedom to do things a little differently. I don't know whether they would move far from where we're at now. That's what I liked about the NFL- was I know when the game starts."

"And what I'd love to see is get more streamlined to where it [NASCAR] is like, 'Hey, every race is going to start, you know, unless it's a night race, right? Every race. You know, it's gonna start at X time,'" he added.

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What does the NASCAR Cup schedule look like for the upcoming regular and playoff season races regarding start times?

Here's when the races are set to begin:

Regular Season

The Great American Getaway 400, Pocono Raceway- 2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network- July 14, Sunday.

Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway- 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC- July 21, Sunday.

Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway- 6:00 p.m. ET, USA Network- August 11, Sunday.

FireKeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway- 2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network- August 18, Sunday.

Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway- 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC- August 24, Saturday.

Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway- 6:00 p.m. ET, USA Network- September 1, Sunday.

Round Of 16

Quaker State 400 available at Walmart, Atlanta Motor Speedway- 3:00 p.m. ET, USA Network- September 8, Sunday.

Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen International- 3:00 p.m. ET, USA Network- September 15, Sunday.

Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway- 7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network- September 21, Sunday.

Round Of 12

Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway- 3:00 p.m. ET, USA Network- September 29, Sunday.

YellaWood 500, Talladega Superspeedway- 2:00 p.m. ET, NBC- October 6, Sunday.

Bank of America ROVAL 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course- 2:00 p.m. ET, NBC- October 13, Sunday.

Round Of 8

South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway- 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC- October 20, Sunday.

NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami, Homestead-Miami Speedway- 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC- October 27, Sunday.

XFINITY 500, Martinsville Speedway- 2:00 p.m. ET, NBC- November 3, Sunday.

Championship 4

NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Phoenix Raceway- 3:00 p.m. ET, NBC- November 10, Sunday.