How to watch the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (and stream it free)
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The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is the grand finale of the season – one race, four contenders, and 312 laps to decide who becomes the 2025 Cup Series Champion. It takes place at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 2, 2025, closing months of drama and playoff eliminations in a single high-stakes showdown.
This year’s race carries extra weight: it’s one of the final championship events to be held at Phoenix before the title finale rotates to a new track in 2026. With the Championship 4 set and momentum swinging between veterans and rising stars, this race promises one of the most intense battles in years.
If you’re planning to tune in, several official broadcasters and streaming platforms are showing the race live – including options to stream every session, from practice and qualifying to race day itself. And if you want to catch it for free, there’s even a legitimate way to do that through ThreeNow, the free-to-air NASCAR broadcaster in New Zealand (which you can access using a VPN).
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about watching the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race – including the full weekend schedule, official US and international viewing options, and step-by-step tips for streaming the race safely and in HD.
Where to watch the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Below are the official US streaming options for watching the full NASCAR Cup Series Championship weekend, including practice, qualifying, and the main race. Each platform lists which sessions it covers, their start times, and current pricing to help you choose the best fit.
If you’re reading from outside the United States, jump ahead to the section on International Streaming Options to learn how to watch the race abroad, including access to the free NASCAR stream on ThreeNow through a VPN.
| Session | Time (ET) | Network / stream | Starting price |
| Practice | Fri, Oct 31 – 5:35 PM | truTV / Max (B/R Sports Add-On) | From $16.99/month |
| Qualifying | Sat, Nov 1 – 5:00 PM | truTV / Max (B/R Sports Add-On) | From $16.99/month |
| Main race | Sun, Nov 2 – 3:00 PM | NBC / Peacock / Live-TV services | Peacock $7.99/month, Sling Blue $45/month, fuboTV $64.99/month, Hulu Live $76.99/month |
How to watch each service
- NBC (Cable or Antenna): watch the full Championship Race live at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT; practice and qualifying air elsewhere.
- Peacock: streams the entire race and highlights for $7.99/month; does not include practice or qualifying.
- Sling TV (Blue): carries NBC and USA Network in select areas for race + qualifying, no practice coverage.
- fuboTV: includes NBC and USA Network for both qualifying and race with a 7-day free trial.
- Hulu + Live TV: streams NBC and USA Network for qualifying and race at $76.99/month.
- Max (B/R Sports Add-On): shows practice and qualifying sessions plus Driver Cam feeds, not the main race.
Tip: The most affordable way to watch the full race without cable is Peacock Premium ($7.99/month), which streams NBC’s live broadcast directly. For a completely free option, connect to a New Zealand VPN server and watch on ThreeNow, the official free NASCAR broadcaster in that region.
How to watch the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race for free
ThreeNow is New Zealand’s free-to-air streaming service with exclusive rights to broadcast the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, including the Championship Race. Because it’s ad-supported, viewers in New Zealand can watch the race live at no cost through the ThreeNow Sport channel under Live TV.
ThreeNow streams the main races and qualifying sessions live, while practice sessions are typically shown later as highlights or recaps. The service is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but you can easily access it abroad using a VPN.
Here’s how to watch for free:
- Choose a reliable VPN with servers in New Zealand – I recommend NordVPN, currently 75% OFF
- Download and install the VPN application on your device
- Launch the VPN and connect to a server located in New Zealand
- Open your browser and go to ThreeNow.co.nz
- Create a free account (any valid New Zealand postal code will work, e.g. Auckland 1010)
- Go to Live TV, ThreeNow Sport and start streaming the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race live for free
International streaming options
If you’re outside the United States, several official broadcasters will stream the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race live. Most services require a subscription, but all provide HD coverage of the main race and qualifying sessions.
| Country / region | Broadcaster / platform | Access type | Starting price |
| Canada | TSN+ / RDS | Subscription | From CA $8/month |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Viaplay Sports | Subscription | Around £14.99/month |
| Australia | Fox Sports / Kayo Sports | Subscription | From AU $30/month |
| New Zealand | ThreeNow | Free (ad-supported) | Free |
| Europe (Central & Eastern) | SportKlub / Motorsport.tv | Subscription | Varies by country |
| Latin America | Star+ | Subscription | Around US $10/month |
These networks typically air both qualifying and race day coverage, while practice sessions may be available only as highlights or in extended replay packages.
If your region doesn’t have a local broadcaster, the simplest workaround is to use a VPN and connect to a region with official coverage:
- Connect to a New Zealand server to stream the race free on ThreeNow.
- Or connect to a US server and stream via Peacock or fuboTV for guaranteed full-event access.
Supporting races: Xfinity and Truck Series Championships
The NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway also features the season finales for the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. These two events complete the 2025 NASCAR schedule and are broadcast live across several networks – including FS1, The CW, and ThreeNow in New Zealand.
| Series | Date | Time (ET) | Network/stream | Notes |
| Truck Series Championship | Fri, Oct 31, 2025 | 7:30 PM ET | FS1 (qualifying on FS2) / ThreeNow | Season finale for the Truck Series. |
| Xfinity Series Championship | Sat, Nov 1, 2025 | 6:30 PM ET | The CW / ThreeNow | The Xfinity Series title decider ahead of Sunday’s Cup race. |
How to watch in the US
- FS1 – available through most cable providers and live-TV streaming services like Sling Blue, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
- The CW – free to watch over the air in most US cities; also available via Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and the CW app.
Both the Xfinity and Truck Series Championship races are streamed live and free on ThreeNow in New Zealand. Practice sessions are not streamed live but are typically added later as highlights. Viewers outside New Zealand can access ThreeNow using a VPN, connect to a New Zealand server, and open Live TV → ThreeNow Sport during the broadcast.
How the NASCAR Championship 4 works
The NASCAR Championship 4 is where an entire season’s effort comes down to a single evening at Phoenix Raceway. Twenty-six regular-season events and three playoff rounds narrow the field to four finalists – the best of the best. When the green flag drops, points don’t matter anymore. Whoever finishes highest among them is crowned NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
The 2025 lineup reads like a script written for drama: Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin represent Joe Gibbs Racing, while William Byron and Kyle Larson carry the banner for Hendrick Motorsports. Two powerhouse teams, four very different paths to Phoenix.
Byron arrives as the man to beat. He’s led more than 1,200 laps this season, taken 10 stage wins, and already conquered Phoenix once in the Next Gen era. Larson, his teammate, matches him in stage victories and owns a Phoenix win of his own – raw pace and precision make him a constant threat. Hamlin, the veteran still chasing his first title, has the experience and race craft to turn strategy into gold. And then there’s Briscoe – the underdog who outlasted the field through consistency and calm when it mattered most.
It’s a race that rewards nerve as much as speed. Every pit call, every restart, every split-second decision can swing the title. And when the checkered flag falls over Phoenix, only one driver will have outlasted them all.
FAQ
How does the NASCAR Championship 4 work?
The four remaining playoff drivers compete in one final race at Phoenix Raceway. Whoever finishes highest among them – regardless of overall position – wins the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
What time does the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race start?
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race roars to life on Sunday, November 2, with the green flag scheduled for 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT). Pre-race coverage starts an hour earlier on NBC and Peacock, setting the stage for the biggest showdown of the season.
Can I stream the NASCAR Championship Race without cable?
You can. Peacock carries the full race live for $7.99/month, no cable required. Prefer a live-TV package? Platforms like Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV also include NBC and USA Network, letting you stream from your TV, laptop, or phone wherever you are.
Can I watch the NASCAR Championship Race for free?
Yes, there’s a free and official way to watch. In New Zealand, the race streams live on ThreeNow under its ThreeNow Sport section – no subscription, just ads. Outside New Zealand? Simply connect to a VPN with a New Zealand server, sign up for a free ThreeNow account, and enjoy every lap live in HD.
