Motorsports fans across the United States are in for a heart-pounding weekend as two of North America’s premier racing championships converge for a double-header of high-stakes action. The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs reach a fever pitch with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while endurance racing’s best battle it out in the 10-hour IMSA Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. With championship implications, dramatic storylines, and a host of familiar faces, this weekend promises to be one for the ages.
All eyes turn first to Las Vegas, where the South Point 400 serves as the opening contest in the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a win guarantees a playoff driver a coveted spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway on November 2. Pre-race coverage kicks off at 5 p.m. ET with the popular Countdown to Green, setting the stage for an evening of edge-of-your-seat racing.
The playoff field is stacked with talent and storylines. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and William Byron currently hold the top four spots in the standings, but there’s little room for error as every lap counts. Defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who sits below the cutline, returns to Las Vegas as the defending South Point 400 champion, having won two of the last three editions of this race. Logano’s path to Phoenix is anything but certain, but he’s no stranger to last-minute heroics—just last week, he advanced to the Round of 8 after a dramatic last-lap pass on Ross Chastain in Charlotte.
Shane van Gisbergen, fresh off his momentum-building victory in Charlotte, has inserted himself into the playoff conversation, while Ross Chastain and others look to upset the established order. The pressure is on, and with so much on the line, fans can expect no shortage of fireworks as the green flag drops in the desert.
NBC Sports is pulling out all the stops for coverage, with a broadcast team that reads like a who’s who of motorsport. Leigh Diffey handles play-by-play duties, joined by analyst Jeff Burton—known as “The Mayor” of NASCAR and a two-time Pennzoil 400 winner at Las Vegas in 1999 and 2000—and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte. Pit reporters Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Dillon Welch will provide real-time updates from the heart of the action, while post-race analysis will be hosted by Snider alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of Hyak Motorsports. Burton will also lend his insights to the pre-race coverage, ensuring viewers get the full spectrum of expert opinion.
The event’s Las Vegas flavor is further enhanced by the presence of local legend Kurt Busch, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and the 2004 inaugural “Chase for the Cup” champion, who will provide the opening tease for the broadcast. Hollywood’s own Glen Powell, known for his roles in “Top Gun: Maverick” and other blockbusters, will deliver the ceremonial command to start engines, adding a touch of star power to the proceedings.
For fans eager to soak up every moment, practice and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live on truTV on Saturday, October 11, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. With streaming available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, there’s no excuse to miss a single lap as the playoff drama unfolds.
As soon as the dust settles in Las Vegas, motorsport enthusiasts can shift their attention east to Georgia, where the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s MOTUL Petit Le Mans takes center stage at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. This storied 10-hour endurance race, running from noon to 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 11, marks the season finale for IMSA and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The opening hours (noon to 3 p.m. ET) air on NBC, with the remaining coverage streaming exclusively on Peacock, ensuring fans can follow the action from start to finish.
The Petit Le Mans is renowned for its grueling test of speed, strategy, and stamina, and this year’s field is stacked with championship contenders across all four IMSA classes. In the GTD Pro class, the battle is razor-thin: just 18 points separate the No. 3 Corvette and the No. 81 Ferrari, meaning the class winner could walk away with both the race victory and the season-long championship. The GTP class is equally intense, with Porsche No. 6, Porsche No. 7, and BMW No. 24 all vying for the drivers’ title as the season comes to a close.
Adding to the excitement, 23-year-old American Max Esterson will make his debut in the IMSA sportscar series’ top GTP class, piloting the JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 alongside regular driver Tijmen van der Helm and World Endurance and A1GP champion Neel Jani. Esterson, who recently ended his Formula 2 season early, is no stranger to Road Atlanta, though this weekend marks his first endurance race—and his first time racing a car with a roof! “This will be my first ever endurance race (and first ever race in a car with a roof!) and although I’m jumping in at the deep end with the 700hp plus 50kW of hybrid power Porsche LMDH car, I feel I’m well prepared having had a solid test with the team last month,” Esterson said in a written statement. “I last raced at Road Atlanta five years ago in a Formula Ford with 110hp, but fortunately I’ve driven a few other cars since then, and the Porsche LMDH performance isn’t so different from my normal FIA F2 car.”
Esterson’s journey to this point has been marked by determination and adaptability. He began his single-seater career in Formula Ford in the USA, capturing the Walter Hayes Trophy and the FFord Festival in Britain before progressing to GB3, where he notched a victory and multiple podiums. After two FIA F3 outings in 2023, he competed full-time in FIA F2 in 2024 and 2025 before parting ways with Trident three rounds early this year. His leap into the hyper-competitive GTP class at Petit Le Mans is a testament to his versatility and ambition.
James Roe Jr., another rising star, will compete in the LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans with Pratt Miller Motorsports. Roe Jr. has already contested three rounds this season, with a best finish of ninth in class. The 26-year-old Irishman, who finished sixth in Indy Nxt last year, continues to build his endurance racing résumé alongside a talented field.
Coverage of the Petit Le Mans will be delivered by NBC Sports’ Brian Till and Dave Burns on play-by-play, with analysis from former IMSA drivers Calvin Fish and Townsend Bell. Pit reporters Matt Yocum, Kevin Lee, Kristen Beat, and Chris Wilner will bring viewers closer to the action, capturing the strategy, drama, and emotion that define this endurance racing classic.
Elsewhere in the paddock, the Australian-owned Evans GP team is making waves by using Toyota 86 cars to train young drivers through its ‘Evans GP Academy’ program, partnering with Andrea Todisco’s AT Performance to further integrate GT mileage into its coaching. Team boss Joshua Evans, who co-owns the successful DW Evans GT team, continues to foster the next generation of racing talent, blending single-seater and GT experience for a holistic approach to driver development.
With championship berths, season-long titles, and racing legacies at stake, this weekend’s motorsport double-feature is set to deliver thrills, surprises, and unforgettable moments. Whether it’s the high-speed chess match of NASCAR’s playoffs in Las Vegas or the relentless test of endurance at Road Atlanta, fans are in for a treat as the motorsport world holds its breath and watches the storylines unfold.
As the engines roar and the checkered flags wave, one thing is certain: the road to glory is paved with risk, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of victory. With every turn, pit stop, and strategic gamble, the 2025 racing season’s defining moments are about to be written—live, loud, and unmissable.
