When the Cup Series playoffs began, no one was in a more advantageous position than Martin Truex Jr.
The Joe Gibbs Racing star had faultless throughout the regular season, cruising to his second regular season title and securing an all important 15 additional playoff points.
Three races later and things aren't shaping up to be quite as positive. Truex finds himself on the outside looking in of a spot in the Round of 12, tethered dangerously close to that equator between success and failure.
He certainly has the experience — and the speed — to carve his way through the mire and fulfill his title ambitions. But he'll need quite the run at Bristol, a site that he has a checkered history at; Truex hasn't finished higher than seventh at the apparatus since 2013.
MORE: Watch NASCAR at Bristol live with Fubo (free trial)
With that, here's what you need to know about the first cut off race of the Cup Series postseason, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV channel: USA (U.S.) | TSN4 (Canada)
- Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
- Radio: PRN
Saturday's race will be broadcast on USA Network in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the action on TSN4.
Veteran announcer Rick Allen will lead the race's lap-by-lap commentator. He'll be joined by former Cup Series stars Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as former Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.
Cord-cutters can follow the action on Peacock, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
NASCAR start time today
- Date: Saturday, September 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race has a listed start time of 7:30 p.m. ET., but pre-race festivities are expected to push the waving of the green flag closer to 7:37 p.m. ET.
NASCAR playoff schedule 2023
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Sept. 3 | Southern 500 (Kyle Larson) | Darlington Raceway | |||
| Sept. 10 | Hollywood Casino 400 (Tyler Reddick) | Kansas Speedway | |||
| Sept. 16 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| Sept. 24 | AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 | Texas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| Oct. 1 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Oct. 8 | Bank of America Roval 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval | 2 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| Oct. 15 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| Oct. 22 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Oct. 30 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Nov. 6 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
Fans in Canada can watch all NASCAR races on TSN.