Racing fans have never had more motorsport to follow, or a more scattered map of where to actually find it. Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, and IndyCar each sit with a different broadcaster in the US, and several of those deals changed hands recently. Anyone searching for motorsport coverage needs to know which series they’re after before they can get a straight answer. This guide breaks down every major racing series, what makes each one distinct, and where each currently airs. Every detail here reflects current arrangements, which shift more often for live racing than almost any other content type.
The past few seasons reshaped this landscape almost completely. Formula 1 left ESPN for an exclusive streaming deal, MotoGP changed American broadcasters, and NASCAR signed a seven-year agreement splitting its season across four different partners. As a result, motorsport viewing now spans traditional networks, cable, and streaming services all at once. This guide covers each series in turn, from open-wheel racing to stock cars to two wheels. A comparison table and FAQ follow, useful for anyone deciding which championship to follow first.
Last Updated: July 2026
How This Guide Was Structured
- Verified broadcast arrangements at the time of writing, for each major racing series
- A breakdown of what separates each championship, from Formula 1 to NASCAR to MotoGP
- A series-by-series table showing where each one currently airs in the US
- Notes on how recently these arrangements have changed
- Related viewing guides for further reading
For coverage beyond racing, ForeverWatch’s sports streaming sites hub maps out broadcasters across every other major league too.
About Motorsport
Motorsport covers every form of competitive racing built around engines. That spans open-wheel championships like Formula 1 and IndyCar, stock car racing led by NASCAR, motorcycle series like MotoGP, endurance events like Le Mans, rally championships, and electric racing through Formula E. Even monster truck events fall under the same broad umbrella, though they lean toward entertainment spectacle rather than championship competition. Each discipline has its own machines, rules, and culture. What unites them is simple: speed, engineering, and the constant risk that one mistake ends a race.
The differences matter when choosing what to follow. Formula 1 emphasizes cutting-edge technology and global circuits. NASCAR builds drama through pack racing and contact. MotoGP delivers arguably the most physically demanding racing of all, with riders leaning centimeters from the tarmac at over 200 mph. IndyCar splits its season between ovals and road courses, headlined by the Indianapolis 500. There’s genuinely no wrong entry point into motorsport. It mostly comes down to which style of racing hooks a viewer first.
Formula 1
Formula 1 remains the most-watched motorsport championship in the world, running a calendar of Grands Prix across five continents. Its American broadcast home changed in a genuinely historic way: Apple TV signed an exclusive five-year US deal beginning with the 2026 season, ending ESPN’s run that had lasted since 2018. Every practice, qualifying, Sprint, and Grand Prix session now streams through a standard Apple TV subscription. Select races and all practice sessions are also available free in the Apple TV app. That made Formula 1 the first major racing series to go streaming-exclusive in the US. For the full breakdown, including access in other regions, ForeverWatch’s where to watch Formula 1 guide covers it in depth.
NASCAR
NASCAR runs the biggest domestic racing operation in American motorsport, anchored by the Cup Series and its crown-jewel Daytona 500. Its current seven-year media deal, running from 2025 through 2031, splits each season across four partners. Fox Sports opens the year with 14 races, including the Daytona 500. Amazon’s Prime Video then carries five races as streaming exclusives. TNT Sports takes the next five, simulcast on HBO Max. NBC Sports closes with the final 14, covering the entire playoff run. The Xfinity Series airs separately on The CW, while Fox retains the Truck Series. It’s the most fragmented arrangement in motorsport, so knowing the calendar matters as much as knowing the channel.
MotoGP
MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing, and its US home also changed recently. Fox Sports took over as the American broadcaster under a multi-year deal, carrying every race live on FS1 and FS2. That ended a stretch where the series bounced between cable homes. It also placed MotoGP, NASCAR, and IndyCar under one broadcaster for part of the season. Riders like Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia headline a grid that races at speeds exceeding 220 mph on two wheels. ForeverWatch’s dedicated where to watch MotoGP guide covers the series in full. The broader motorcycle racing hub extends past MotoGP into World Superbike and other two-wheel championships.
IndyCar and Other Series
IndyCar moved every race to broadcast television under its current Fox deal, giving it more over-the-air reach than any other racing series. Its centerpiece remains the Indianapolis 500, still the largest single-day sporting event in the world by attendance. Beyond that, Formula E carries electric open-wheel racing, the World Rally Championship covers loose-surface racing, and IMSA and the World Endurance Championship anchor sports car racing, headlined by the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Monster Jam and similar events round out the entertainment end of motorsport. Coverage for these smaller series shifts often, so checking each championship’s own site before a specific event remains the safest approach.
Where Each Motorsport Series Airs
Here’s how the major championships currently line up in the US. Motorsport rights change more frequently than almost any other category, so treat this as a starting point rather than a permanent answer.
| Series | Discipline | Current US Home |
|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 | Open-wheel | Apple TV, exclusive, all sessions included with subscription |
| NASCAR Cup Series | Stock car | Fox Sports, Prime Video, TNT/HBO Max, and NBC, split across the season |
| MotoGP | Motorcycle | Fox Sports, every race live on FS1 and FS2 |
| IndyCar | Open-wheel | Fox, every race on broadcast television |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | Stock car | The CW |
| Formula E | Electric open-wheel | Varies; check the series’ own listings |
| WRC / Endurance | Rally / Sports car | Varies by event and season |
FAQs About Motorsport
What counts as motorsport?
Any competitive racing built around engines: open-wheel series like Formula 1 and IndyCar, stock cars, motorcycles, rally, endurance racing, and electric championships all qualify.
Is Formula 1 still on ESPN?
No. Apple TV holds exclusive US rights under a five-year deal that began with the 2026 season, covering every session of every race weekend.
Why is NASCAR on so many different channels?
Its current media deal deliberately splits the season across Fox, Prime Video, TNT with HBO Max, and NBC, trading a single home for broader reach and a larger rights fee.
What’s the difference between Formula 1 and IndyCar?
Both are open-wheel series, but Formula 1 races globally with each team building its own car, while IndyCar runs a mostly American calendar with standardized chassis, including oval racing Formula 1 doesn’t attempt.
Is MotoGP more dangerous than car racing?
It’s widely considered the most physically demanding motorsport, since riders have no protective shell and routinely exceed 220 mph, though safety across all racing has improved enormously.
Will where each motorsport series airs change again soon?
Very likely somewhere. Formula 1 and MotoGP both changed US homes within recent memory, and rights deals turn over constantly. Checking a series’ own site before a specific race is always worth doing.
Final Thoughts
Motorsport now spans more platforms than any single subscription can cover. Apple TV holds Formula 1 exclusively, Fox Sports anchors MotoGP and IndyCar, and NASCAR deliberately spreads its season across four partners. That fragmentation is the defining fact of following racing today. The right service depends entirely on which championship matters most to a given fan. The racing itself has rarely been better, from Formula 1’s new regulations era to MotoGP’s rider battles to NASCAR’s playoff format. For anyone starting fresh, pick the discipline that looks most exciting and follow one full season. Motorsport rewards that kind of commitment more than casual channel-flipping ever will. Before settling on a service, double-check the current broadcast arrangement directly with the series, since these deals genuinely change faster than any other content covered on this site.
