The 267-lap main event is set to take place on Sunday and is being broadcast on the USA Network. However, those hoping to catch qualifying action this afternoon, and indeed the Xfinity Series, have been left furious.
That's because neither practice nor qualifying for the Xfinity Series or Cup Series was or is being broadcast on television, with the channel instead showing soccer coverage.
Given we are now at the crunch end of the season and the playoffs are well underway, this feels like a bizarre choice. Instead, fans are forced to watch the action on the NBC Sports App, where it is being streamed.
Not everybody has access to this platform, however, and some fans have been left angry because of this.
One X user even claimed it is why the networks ratings are down:
And again since the USA network took over nascar coverage I go to watch qualifying and its showing soccer. And they wonder why ratings are down..
Another fan admitted that they were confused trying to find coverage of the race on TV, claiming that NASCAR makes things too complicated:
@nascar Been a nascar fan 30+yrs & never been so confused tryin to figure out how to watch CUP prac & qual & @NASCAR_Xfinity race. Can’t keep track. NASCAR makes things too complicated. Points, finishing races w/out 45 mins of caution & now watchin on TV is even a pain. Bummer.
Finally, others expressed unhappiness at having to watch on an app rather than the television, with it deemed to be an all-round worse experience:
@NASCAR I cannot believe that it’s the PLAYOFFS and we aren’t getting tv coverage of Xfinity…and have to go to NBCSports App for Cup qualifying? This is crazy. @SpotterBrett@FreddieKraft