Race Day Preview: Dollar Tree 301

The NASCAR Cup Series arrives at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 23, for the Dollar Tree 301. The race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET, as multiple outlets report, and will air live on USA Network. Viewers can tune in via Sling for as little as a $4.99 day pass, a cost highlighted by several sources in their viewing guides. Alternatively, fans can watch for free online by taking advantage of a DIRECTV free trial, an option featured in at least one report — that same outlet notes a Sling subscription offers an affordable monthly plan as well.

The race serves as a key late-season stop with playoff implications. As reported in several previews, Joey Logano arrives carrying momentum after a victory at Richmond Raceway last week. The win stood as a dominant performance for the Team Penske driver, and he enters the weekend bidding to build on that result after previously climbing from 20th to ninth in the standings. Ryan Blaney, Logano's teammate, won at New Hampshire last season and sits second in points entering the event.

The battle for the final Chase positions was a central theme in the pre-race coverage. With two races left in the regular season, Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen hold the final two spots in the Chase field, sitting above the cut line by 57 and 50 points respectively, as noted in multiple reports. Ryan Preece and Ross Chastain are among those aiming to break into the top 16, trailing by 50 and 63 points. The same previews underscore the importance of every point in the closing stretch, describing the pressure on the bubble drivers.

2026 Season Standings and Broadcast Schedule

Denny Hamlin, the points leader, enters the race with 969 points, according to al.com. He has recorded 14 top-5 finishes and ranks second in victories this season. Blaney moved into second place last week's action, sitting at 854 points, with a series-leading 16 top-10 finishes. Ty Gibbs continues in third place, trailing Blaney by 12 points as reported by the same outlet, following a 15th-place finish last week.

Television access remains a central focus. The race will be broadcast on the USA Network. The online streaming landscape, according to syracan and other coverage, includes DISH, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV as options carrying the network. DIRECTV's free 5-day trial clocks begins at $89.99 per month after the trial ends, according to syracan's experience. The USA Network will air eight of the remaining 12 races on the schedule, as stated in several previews, including the upcoming contest at Iowa Speedway and the first seven races of the Chase.

The pursuit of the 2026 championship resumes after Sunday with the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, a 160-lap race set for Aug. 29.