In a surprising turn of events, the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway will not be broadcast on NBC as usual. Instead, the race will be shown live on the USA Network. This shift in broadcasting channels has raised some eyebrows among NASCAR fans.

The decision to air the Pocono race on the USA Network marks the third out of six regular season races that will be covered by the channel. NBC, on the other hand, has aired two races, while the remaining race was shown on NBC Sports Network before its shutdown at the end of the 2021 season.

This change in broadcast patterns is part of a larger transition in the NASCAR media landscape. The 2024 season marks the final year of the current media rights deal, with significant changes expected in the following year. Both Fox and NBC will witness a decrease in their broadcast coverage, as Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports are set to join the fray, covering five races each.

Fox will see a reduction in coverage from 16 races to 12, while NBC's coverage will drop from 20 races to 14. As for the USA Network, it will continue to cover 10 races, while NBC itself will only broadcast four races in the upcoming season.

Despite the shift in channels, there is a clear plan for the distribution of races during the playoffs. NBC will broadcast the majority of the four-round, 10-race playoffs, with six races scheduled to air on their network. Furthermore, USA Network will handle the first four postseason races, leaving the final six to NBC's coverage.

The Great American Getaway 400, presented by VISITPA, is set to take place at Pocono Raceway. The race consists of 160 laps around the challenging three-turn, 2.5-mile Tricky Triangle in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. NASCAR enthusiasts can catch all the action live on the USA Network starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 14.

This sudden change in the broadcasting landscape has sparked curiosity among fans, as they wonder how it will affect their experience of following the NASCAR Cup Series. With new networks entering the fray and established networks reducing their coverage, it is clear that 2025 will bring significant changes to the NASCAR media rights deal.

In the meantime, fans can tune in to the USA Network for the Pocono race and witness the thrilling action unfold on the track. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving NASCAR broadcast schedule and the forthcoming changes to the media rights landscape.