Heroes 400: NASCAR Cup Series marks the return of live sports on TV

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, races Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 02, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina.

Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, races Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 02, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina.

American sports returns to the airways Sunday with the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

Forty drivers are scheduled to participate in the first professional sporting event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While NASCAR is resuming the Cup Series, the Darlington race will be far from ordinary. The Cup Series skipped both practice and qualifying heats. In addition, there will be no fans in the stands.

The race follows the launch of The Real Heroes Project, a collaborative initiative by 14 sports leagues, including NASCAR, to recognize and pay tribute to medical professionals fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting lineups will be set by random draws for charter teams based on owner points.

Here’s what you need to know about the Heroes 400:

What time: The race is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Sunday.

What channel: You can watch on the FOX network and the FOX Sports App.

How long is the race: 400.2 miles

Who is racing: Drivers expected to compete:

  1. Quin Houff
  2. Kurt Busch
  3. Brad Keselowski
  4. Austin Dillon
  5. Kevin Harvick
  6. Ryan Newman
  7. Josh Bilicki
  8. Tyler Reddick
  9. Chase Elliott
  10. Aric Almirola
  11. Denny Hamlin
  12. Ryan Blaney
  13. Ty Dillon
  14. Clint Bowyer
  15. Brennan Poole
  16. Chris Buescher
  17. Kyle Busch
  18. Martin Truex Jr.
  19. Erik Jones
  20. Matt DiBenedetto
  21. Joey Logano
  22. William Byron
  23. J.J. Yeley
  24. Corey Lajoie
  25. Michael McDowell
  26. Ryan Preece
  27. John Hunter Nemechek
  28. Cole Custer
  29. Matt Kenseth
  30. Bubba Wallace
  31. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  32. Jimmie Johnson
  33. Joey Gase
  34. Garrett Smithley
  35. Timmy Hill
  36. Reed Sorenson
  37. B.J. McLeod 
  38. Alex Bowman
  39. Christopher Bell
  40. Daniel Suarez

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