The NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, is set for Sunday, March 29, 2026, with the green flag scheduled for 1:30 PM ET. Canadian fans can watch on FS1 and HBO MAX, and the weekend starts a day earlier: Cup Series practice runs Saturday, March 28, at 12:30 PM ET, followed by qualifying at 1:40 PM ET.
That Saturday session matters more here than at most tracks. Martinsville is a tight, paper-clip-shaped short track where the cars spend the race nose to tail, and starting position carries real weight. Qualifying order helps decide who gets clean air and who spends the afternoon bumping through traffic. For anyone tuning in from Canada, the early-spring timing makes this a natural season check-in as the Cup schedule settles into rhythm.
Below, we cover how to follow the race from this side of the border, what to know if you’re considering the trip to southern Virginia, and practical tips for planning your weekend. Ticket pricing hasn’t been confirmed, so we won’t guess at it.
Why Martinsville Speedway Is Worth Your Attention: Overview for Canadian Fans
Martinsville Speedway sits in Ridgeway, Virginia, and it is a very different kind of NASCAR venue from the sprawling superspeedways most casual fans picture. It’s a compact short track, which means the cars run in tight quarters with little room to breathe. For newcomers, a “short track” is simply a smaller oval where laps come quickly and drivers are rarely far from one another.
That layout changes how a race plays out. Hard braking into the tight turns and the patience to wait for a clean opportunity matter more here than raw straight-line speed. Passing is difficult, so track position carries real weight, and contact between rivals is part of the story. It’s a test of car control and temperament, and that makes it easy to follow even if you’re relatively new to stock car racing.
For Canadian motorsport followers, the appeal works on two levels. As a broadcast event, the spring race offers compact, close-quarters racing without needing deep knowledge of the sport to enjoy it. As a destination, Ridgeway is reachable by road for fans willing to plan a cross-border trip, which makes Martinsville an appealing candidate for a weekend away. We’ll stay brand-neutral here and leave entry lists and storylines for closer to race day, since those aren’t confirmed.
Whether you plan to watch from the couch or make the drive south, knowing the basics now will help you get more out of the weekend.
Race Weekend Key Details: Dates, Times, and Where to Watch
Here is the verified schedule for the Cup Series spring stop at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA. The headline event is the March 29, 2026 race time of 1:30 PM ET, but Saturday’s on-track sessions are worth a spot on your calendar too.
| Day | Session | Start Time (ET) | Broadcast Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, March 28 | Cup Series Practice | 12:30 PM | Not confirmed here |
| Saturday, March 28 | Cup Series Qualifying | 1:40 PM | Not confirmed here |
| Sunday, March 29 | Cup Series Race | 1:30 PM | FS1 and HBO MAX |
All times above are Eastern. If you’re watching from Winnipeg, Calgary or Vancouver, convert them to your local time zone before you set a reminder. Eastern Canada shares the ET clock, so Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal viewers can use the times as listed.
Here’s the part Canadian fans need to read carefully. The FS1 and HBO Max broadcast listing refers to U.S. outlets. We haven’t verified which channels or streaming services carry the race in Canada, and that can differ from the American lineup. Before race day, check with your TV or streaming provider to confirm what’s available where you live, rather than assuming the U.S. listing applies.
The Saturday practice and qualifying sessions deserve attention if you want the full picture. On a short track where passing is tough, the starting order set in qualifying can shape how Sunday unfolds. That makes Saturday more than a warm-up.
Planning to attend in person? Ticket pricing hasn’t been confirmed, so we won’t guess at a number. For ticketing, availability and any gate or parking details, go straight to the official Martinsville Speedway channels.
How to Follow Martinsville 2026 From Canada: Five Ways to Plan Your Race Day
1. Watching the Race Live on FS1
The Sunday, March 29, 2026 race at Martinsville Speedway is listed on FS1, with the green flag set for 1:30 PM ET. That listing is a U.S. broadcast detail, so Canadian viewers shouldn’t assume the channel comes with their package. Before race weekend, check your TV provider’s channel lineup or contact them directly to confirm whether FS1 is carried and whether you’ll get it live.
Do this early rather than on race morning. A missing channel is much easier to sort out on Wednesday than ten minutes before the start. Also convert the 1:30 PM ET start to your own time zone and set a reminder. If you’re on Pacific time, for example, that’s well before lunch.
2. Streaming the Race on HBO MAX
HBO MAX appears alongside FS1 on the listing for the Sunday, March 29 race, with the green flag set for 1:30 PM ET. That makes it a possible way to watch online, but availability in Canada isn’t something to assume. Before race day, check whether the service is offered in your region and whether this particular coverage is included in your plan.
Once you’ve confirmed access, do a little prep so nothing trips you up at the start. Log in a day or two early, in case you need to reset a password or update payment details. Test your connection on the device you plan to use, whether that’s a smart TV, laptop or tablet. If you’re streaming on a shared network, close other bandwidth-heavy apps. A quick dry run beats scrambling during the pace laps.
3. Catching Saturday Practice and Qualifying
Saturday, March 28, is where the weekend’s story starts to take shape. Cup Series practice runs at 12:30 PM ET, giving teams a chance to learn how the car handles on the track. Qualifying follows at 1:40 PM ET and decides who starts where on Sunday.
That order matters at Martinsville. On a compact short track where passing is tough, a good starting spot can shape the whole afternoon. If you want to know who earned the front rows, you can check qualifying results once the session wraps up.
For newer fans, think of practice as the warm-up and qualifying as the timed run for grid position.
4. Hosting a Group Viewing at Home or a Local Sports Bar
A group viewing works best when you sort out the basics a few days ahead. If you’re heading to a sports bar, call ahead and ask whether they’ll show the FS1 broadcast on Sunday, March 29. Many venues set up their screens in advance, so a quick confirmation beats showing up and hoping. Ask about reservations too, since early-afternoon races can fill tables fast.
The green flag drops at 1:30 PM ET, which is earlier in the day for western Canada, so plan the meal and the seating around that. At home, test your TV provider’s channel lineup or streaming login beforehand, and keep a short-track explainer handy for guests who are new to racing. Snacks you can eat with one hand help, too.
5. Making the Trip to Ridgeway, VA
Driving down to Ridgeway, VA means planning for crossing the border before you think about the race itself. Bring valid passports for everyone in the vehicle, and check that your health and auto insurance cover you in the U.S. Budget for fuel and mileage too, since the drive south adds up, and costs vary with your starting point and vehicle.
Practice and qualifying run Saturday, March 28, with the race on Sunday, March 29, so decide whether you’ll attend one day or both. Qualifying matters on a track where passing is tough, which makes Saturday worth the extra night. Ticket pricing hasn’t been confirmed, so check the official speedway channels for tickets, access and gate details before you commit.
Local Tips for Martinsville Race Weekend
A little prep goes a long way on a short-track weekend, whether you’re settling in at home or driving south. The Cup Series practice (12:30 PM ET) and qualifying (1:40 PM ET) happen Saturday, March 28, and the race goes green Sunday, March 29, at 1:30 PM ET, so the planning starts a day early.
- Convert Eastern Time to your own zone before the weekend, since a 1:30 PM ET start lands at a different clock time depending on where you live in Canada.
- Confirm that your TV or streaming provider carries FS1 and HBO MAX, because only those U.S. outlets are verified for this race.
- Test your logins, apps and internet connection the day before so you’re not troubleshooting at the green flag.
- Read up on short-track basics, like why qualifying position matters and how tight racing leads to contact.
- Check official speedway channels for gate, parking, ticket and travel updates if you’re making the trip to Ridgeway, VA.
Newer fans often skip that fourth point, and it pays off. Martinsville is a compact layout where track position is hard to win back, so Saturday’s qualifying result tends to shape Sunday’s story. A few minutes with a primer on pit strategy and restarts makes the broadcast far easier to follow.
If the weekend has you curious about the wider region, our look at nearby Virginia tracks is a useful companion for planning a longer racing road trip.
Martinsville 2026 Race Weekend: Common Questions From Canadian Fans
When is the Martinsville race, and what time does it start?
The Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is on Sunday, March 29, 2026, with a 1:30 PM ET start. Convert that to your local time zone before you plan your day.
Where is Martinsville Speedway?
The track is in Ridgeway, VA. It hosts this spring race.
Where can I watch the race?
The Sunday race is listed on FS1 and HBO MAX. Canadian availability isn’t confirmed here, so check with your TV or streaming provider.
When are practice and qualifying?
Both run Saturday, March 28, 2026. Cup Series practice is at 12:30 PM ET and qualifying follows at 1:40 PM ET.
How much are tickets?
Ticket pricing hasn’t been confirmed. Check the official speedway channels for current information.
If you’re newer to the sport, the qualifying result matters more than it might seem, since it sets the starting order for Sunday. Understanding how a season’s standings are decided adds helpful context too, and our explainer on the Chase points system breaks down how points shape the championship picture.
For anything not listed above, rely on official sources rather than guesses.
The plan for the weekend is simple. On Saturday, March 28, the Cup Series gets going with practice at 12:30 PM ET and qualifying at 1:40 PM ET, which sets the starting order at a track where passing is tough. Then on Sunday, March 29, the green flag drops at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA, with the race listed for 1:30 PM ET on FS1 and HBO MAX.
If you’re watching from Canada, don’t leave access to the last minute. Check that your TV provider carries the channel, test your streaming login and connection ahead of time, and convert those Eastern times to your own time zone so you’re not scrambling on Sunday afternoon.
For anything still unconfirmed, go straight to the official speedway and broadcaster sources. We’d rather point you there than guess, and that includes ticket pricing.
