Insider reveals connection between NASCAR playoffs, NFL schedule

With Wednesday night’s NFL schedule release, some games intersect with the NASCAR playoffs. FOX Sports insider Bob Pockrass revealed the five crossover weekends.

Sept. 21 will see the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers the same day as Loudon, and the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens a week later at the same time as Kansas. The Carolina Panthers host the Miami Dolphins Oct. 5 as NASCAR heads to Charlotte, and the Las Vegas Raiders square off against the Tennessee Titans Oct. 12 while races head to Sin City.

Nov. 3, however, the Arizona Cardinals play on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. That would allow fans to attend both NASCAR at Phoenix on Sunday, Nov. 2, and the Monday night game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

NFL schedule is out … NASCAR playoff races in NFL markets:

9/21-Loudon: Patriots home
9/28-Kansas: Chiefs home
10/5-Charlotte: Panthers home
10/12-Vegas: Raiders home
11/2-Phoenix: Cardinals don't play (Monday night on road)

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 15, 2025

The NASCAR cup playoffs get underway with Darlington Aug. 31 before heading to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison Sept. 7. From there, it’s off to Bristol before the first NFL/NASCAR crossover awaits in Loudon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

After last week’s race at Kansas in the Advent Health 400, Kyle Larson sits atop the NASCAR playoff standings with 23 points. He moved past Christopher Bell, who is now in second place with 16 points, followed by Denny Hamlin with 12.

Larson took over the top spot with his third victory of the season at Kansas in dominant fashion. He led 221 of the 267 lap after starting on the pole, and the win was enough to push him past Bell for the No. 1 spot in the standings heading into All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro.

Kyle Busch suggests change to NASCAR playoffs championship

The NASCAR playoffs are preparing to return to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026 as part of a new yearly rotation model, NASCAR announced last week. Homestead hosted the season finale from 2002-19 before Phoenix Raceway took over as Championship Weekend host in 2020. Both are expected to be included in the rotation.

However, Kyle Busch had an idea to give the playoffs a new look. He said he’d like to see a three-race championship round that includes a Superspeedway.

“Is there a speedway race in the last three? Why not?” Busch said on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “You race six speedway races, you race six road course races, you race eight intermediates. … Three races, Daytona kicks it off… Daytona, Texas, Homestead to finish the season.”

Nick Geddes contributed.