No Cup Series race again this weekend. Why NASCAR is on break during Paris Olympics
NASCAR technically raced last weekend.
The NASCAR-owned ARCA series held the Salem ARCA 200 Saturday. William Sawalich began on the pole and led every lap, capturing the checkered flag at Salem Speedway in Indiana.
But NASCAR’s other major touring circuits — the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series — all took some time off.
Same thing this coming weekend.
ARCA will hold down the fort with the Shore Lunch 250 Saturday at Elko Speedway in Minnesota, as the other three leagues rest. It will be joined by sports-car series IMSA, which competes at Road America in Wisconsin.
Here is why NASCAR is (mostly) on break.
Why is NASCAR off for two weeks?
You might’ve heard the 2024 Summer Olympics started last Friday. There’s your reason.
NASCAR’s broadcast partner, NBC, also televises the Olympics. All of its affiliated networks will be stuffed with daily content from Paris for the next two weeks, temporarily pushing racing to the background.
Does NASCAR stop for two weeks every year?
No. Last summer, the Cup Series ran every weekend in July and August.
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Is this the first time NASCAR has taken an Olympics break?
Nope. NASCAR also pressed the brakes for two weeks in the summer of 2021 during the COVID-delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
When does the NASCAR Cup Series race next?
The same day the Olympics end. The closing ceremony takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11.
At 6 p.m., Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Co. will fire up their engines for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. It will air on the USA Network.
The Truck Series will resume the day before, Aug. 10. The Xfinity Series will remain sidelined until the following weekend at Michigan.
When do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs start?
Drivers will have four races left in the regular season, which concludes Sept. 1 at Darlington Raceway, to jostle for playoff positioning. The postseason kicks off Sept. 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Why NASCAR is on two-week break during 2024 Summer Olympics
