NASCAR pushes back numerous race start times in 2017

Many NASCAR races are starting later in 2017 (Getty). — NASCAR wants you to watch more often (Getty).

If you like your racing later in the day, you’re going to be happy to see the 2017 NASCAR schedule.

NASCAR released the start times of Sprint Cup Series races on Wednesday and many races, including the Daytona 500, will start an hour or so later than they do in 2016. The Daytona 500, on Feb. 26, will have a start time of 2 p.m. ET. The green flag for the 2016 500 was just after 1 p.m.

Sunset in Daytona on Feb. 26 is at 6:22 ET, so it’s unlikely the race will end under darkness without a delay or a bunch of cautions.

The answer for the later start times is simple. So simple that NASCAR itself was even willing to mention it. More people watch television later in the day, so the goal is to improve television ratings, which have seen declines in recent years.

Here’s the start times of all the races in 2017. NBC only has one race that starts at 1 p.m. ET and that’s the fall Martinsville race. If the half-mile track had lights, you can bet it would start later. 17 races had their times pushed back.

Feb. 26: Daytona 500, 2 p.m.
March 5: Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.
March 12: Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m.
March 19: Phoenix, 3:30 p.m.
March 26: Auto Club, 3:30 p.m.
April 2: Martinsville, 2 p.m.
April 9: Texas, 1:30 p.m.
April 23: Bristol, 2 p.m.
April 30: Richmond, 2 p.m.
May 7: Talladega, 2 p.m.
May 13: Kansas, 7:30 p.m.
May 20: All-Star Race, 6 p.m.
May 28: Charlotte, 6 p.m.
June 4: Dover, 1 p.m.
June 11: Pocono, 3 p.m.
June 18: Michigan, 3 p.m.
June 25: Sonoma, 3 p.m.
July 1: Daytona, 7:30 p.m.
July 8: Kentucky, 7:30 p.m.
July 16: New Hampshire, 3 p.m.
July 23: Indianapolis, 3 p.m.
July 30: Pocono, 3 p.m.
Aug. 6: Watkins Glen, 3 p.m.
Aug. 13: Michigan, 3 p.m.
Aug. 19: Bristol, 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 3: Darlington 6 p.m.
Sep. 9: Richmond, 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 17: Chicago, 3 p.m.
Sep. 24: New Hampshire, 2 p.m.
Oct. 1: Dover 2 p.m.
Oct. 7: Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Oct 15: Talladega, 2 p.m.
Oct. 22: Kansas, 3 p.m.
Oct. 29: Martinsville, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5: Texas, 2 p.m.
Nov. 12: Phoenix, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 19: Homestead, 2:30 p.m.