NASHVILLE — Ty Gibbs showed up at the NASCAR Awards Banquet smiling and ready to receive his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year trophy. But the former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion said he was not absolutely satisfied with this first full-season run, even if he had plenty of which to be proud.
Gibbs earned the first top-five and top-10 finishes of his Cup Series career — posting four top fives and 10 top 10s over the 36-race season in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He led 112 laps, including 102 laps in the fall Bristol night race where he finished fifth. His top finish was fourth place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.
“Statistically, yes (he was happy), but I feel like I wanted to run a lot better, of course, and I’m working really hard,” Gibbs said. “The one thing I can take away from my (Xfinity Series) championship (last year) and all the other championships is to enjoy the journey, and I am.
“And I’m working hard. Getting better every weekend is the main goal, and I feel like I accomplished that, so I’m happy with that.”
The 21-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs said he learned many lessons throughout the season, primarily that patience is essential in racing, no matter how counterintuitive that may sound.
“You learn over time and the way Cup Series is now, there are not as many crazy moves going on as there were in Xfinity Series,” Gibbs said, allowing a smile.
“I’m not worried about showing others what I’m doing. I think for me, I’m just trying to do the best I can and when I can do that it shows others,” Gibbs added. “It’s a fine line. You can’t race to make everybody else happy, but at the same time, if you do everything right and calculate everything right and are patient, usually it pays off.
“For me, like this year, even if I wasn’t running as well, I’m still trying to figure out what I have to do to run better and win and that’s the same it will be for next year and until I retire. For me, it’s working hard during the week, having fun, but really learning where I can get better at. I want to win every week if I could, and I want to win championships, too. I feel like it’s been the same motto for me since I’ve been in ARCA and Xfinity; it was how I was raised.”
NASHVILLE — Perennial NASCAR Cup Series championship contender Denny Hamlin came to Nashville wearing a soft brace on his right arm to immobilize his shoulder after surgery a week ago to repair a lingering rotator cuff injury — aggravated by pulled tendons he suffered “playing sports” just before the Oct. 15 playoff race in Las Vegas.
Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, didn’t disclose the injury publicly during the season, saying he didn’t want anyone to think it served as an “excuse” during his playoff performance. But he conceded Thursday that the post-surgery situation has turned out to be more painful and involved than he anticipated.
Surgeons have recommended three months of rest and rehabilitation so Hamlin is not absolutely certain today where he will be in the recovery process come the first race of 2024 – the Feb. 4 non-points Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. He was reluctant to say for sure yet whether he would be in the field for that exhibition event or not.
“What I’m optimistic of is that I’ve got a great team that’s going to work on me to get this better and certainly, I find it hard to believe that I’ll have more pain in late-January than what I did in the end of October and November,” Hamlin said. “Getting through those last five races was really, really hard so I think if I can get through that, then certainly I’ll be able to challenge myself enough to get back in a car sooner than what they’d want me to.”
Hamlin finished fifth in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship, but the right-handed 43-year-old conceded the injury did force him to rely more on his left arm as he completed the final part of the 2023 postseason schedule.
“It was painful, there were many times when they asked me to turn on a switch and I couldn’t reach it, I couldn’t touch it,’’ Hamlin said. “We were certainly up against the odds, but one thing is I didn’t want to use it as any kind of excuse for not making the final four.
“I think really our performance was as good as it possibly could be on track. I did everything I could to succeed, we just didn’t get it done for whatever reason. Certainly, I didn’t want that to be any excuse of why we didn’t perform well. … It’s just one of those things, I grew up being a right-arm driver and during the playoffs had to switch to holding the wheel with the left hand, so it was certainly different.”
Hamlin, was a three-race winner last season, earning his milestone 50th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono Raceway in July then answering with a 51st at the celebrated Bristol Motor Speedway night race in September during the playoff portion of the schedule.
NASHVILLE — Team owner Roger Penske said Thursday that NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney had expressed recent interest in a potential Indianapolis 500 bid.
His response? Let’s pump the brakes.
“It’s interesting that Blaney said to me at some point over the last several weeks that he’d like to go to Indy. I said, ‘whoa,’ ” Penske said with a chuckle. “Let’s slow down here a little bit.”
Penske’s remarks came Thursday morning ahead of the evening’s NASCAR Awards ceremonies, the culmination of a busy Champion’s Week celebration for Blaney and the Team Penske No. 12 group. Penske, who owns the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, had been asked about the impact of Kyle Larson’s quest to run the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double next May. He said that the development has already created a boost in ticket sales.
Blaney said during his Thursday media availability that his interest in the Memorial Day doubleheader was authentic.
“Honestly, it’s something I’ve bounced around in my mind for a couple years, something I feel like if you could do the double, that’s cool,” Blaney said. “Larson’s doing it next year. That’s going to be great. Yeah, I’ve poked around that idea with RP for a couple years now, and I might have to bring it back up. So we’ll see where that goes.”
Penske said fellow team owner Rick Hendrick, who fields Larson’s cars, had approached him years ago about an Indy bid for Larson in one of Team Penske’s cars. He said stretching his resources with a fourth IndyCar entry wasn’t feasible at the time, but he applauds Larson’s partnership with Arrow McLaren for the 2024 running.
“I think that his skill and his fan base in the Midwest (are) amazing,” Penske said. “And he went out there did his rookie tests, just bang, bang, bang. And I think that look, Kurt Busch has run there and you think about the other people that have come from Formula One — Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill, other people and Nigel Mansell — have been successful there. I think that he comes with a tremendous amount of talent, and it’s something that he wants to do.”
Blaney said the lure for him is a mix of participating in a race with so much tradition, but also the draw of an 1,100-mile test that few have attempted or achieved.
“I just feel like (there’s) not maybe many people (who) can do that, right, that can do the double, and it’s a pretty short list,” Blaney said. “It’d be neat to just do it. I have respect for all forms of motorsports, so I think you want to go experience something like that. At my age, it’d be kind of perfect to do it, but I just think the nostalgia of it, being able to say you ran hopefully 1,100 miles in one day on the race track is a cool feat, and cool for Kyle to be able to do it. And maybe one day, I’ll get the privilege, too.”
Blaney’s interest was news to Larson, who said he’d like to see drivers from the IndyCar world give the double a try with an extracurricular trip to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I think that’d be really cool,” Larson said. “I would love to see, you know, a Josef Newgarden come and run the Coke 600 or something like that. I think, there’s been a lot of guys come from the NASCAR side to do it, and it would be interesting to see the other side of the switch. But yeah, I haven’t experienced it yet, so I don’t know. I’ll probably have a better opinion on it all here in a few months. But that’s cool to hear Ryan wants to do the double. I didn’t know that, so that would be be neat if he did actually get to do it someday.”
Of all the marquee events in pavement short track racing throughout the United States, the Snowball Derby stands out among the rest.
Since 1968, Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida has been the gathering spot each December for many of the best in NASCAR and short track racing to battle it out for 300 laps. Awaiting each driver in Victory Lane is the opportunity to hoist the Tom Dawson Trophy and join an elite group of individuals who have a Snowball Derby win.
Wayne Niedecken’s triumph in the inaugural Snowball Derby helped lay the foundation for what the event is today. He is one of a few drivers who have multiple Snowball Derby wins alongside names such as Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Bobby Gill, Augie Grill, Gary Balough and Chase Elliott, the latter of which remains the youngest winner in the history of the race.
No driver has more victories in the Snowball Derby than short track veteran and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Rich Bickle. During his career, Bickle won the Snowball Derby a record five times from 1990-1999 before electing to hang up his helmet during the 2021 edition of the event.
Other notable Snowball Derby victors include NASCAR legends such as Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison and 1970 Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton. Tammy Jo Kirk made history in 1994 as the first female winner of the Snowball Derby before Johanna Long joined her in that category in 2010.
A healthy group of teams are set to make the pilgrimage to Pensacola this week for a busy week of on-track action. Four NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Jones, William Byron, Ryan Preece and Carson Hocevar are on the preliminary entry list alongside short track standouts Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse, Preston Peltier, Derek Thorn, William Sawalich and more.
With anticipation building for the 56th running of the Snowball Derby, those who are competing talked about why this race means so much to them.
Erik Jones in action during the Money in the Bank 150 Super Late Model race at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway on June 7, 2023. (Emily Elconin/NASCAR)
Erik Jones: No. 4 Vast Racing Products Toyota (2012, 2013 winner)
“I came into the 2012 Snowball Derby with some limited options beyond late models, and at the time, I didn’t see an opportunity to do much more than that. Those 2012-13 races really opened my world to the NASCAR side of things and trying to get opportunities to move over there and race forward.
“I wouldn’t say I was the only person that has been in that situation, but it really did change the course of things and help propel my career.”
William Byron: No. 24 U.S. Radiators/PFC Brakes Chevrolet
“[The Snowball Derby] is important just because I enjoy giving back to that aspect of the sport. I feel like it’s very competitive and there’s plenty of competition at that level, just like there is at the Cup level. It’s a good chance to challenge myself against those people and it’s a historic race when you look at the list of people who have won it.
“It’s cool to see people like Donnie Allison, Kyle Busch and others who have won that race in the past.”
Ryan Preece: No. 62 Morton Buildings Ford
“I’m really looking forward to the Snowball Derby. It’s the biggest Super Late Model event in the country, and it’s highly anticipated every year. There’s nothing quite like it for racers and fans. To be a part of it is really exciting, and to be behind the wheel of the No. 62 is awesome.
“We’ve been prepping for this for a while now, and I’m ready to chase the Snowball Trophy and hopefully bring it back to North Carolina.”
Two-time CARS Tour champion Carson Kvapil seeks to improve upon a 12th place run from his debut Snowball Derby attempt last year. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Carson Kvapil: No. 35 Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet
“I feel that the Snowball [Derby] is that one Super Late Model race everyone pays attention to. I believe that the Snowball has a huge amount of competition, and to win that race, everything has to go your way, and obviously you have to have a fast car. Running my dad’s car is always fun to do when I am not running with the JR Motorsports team in Late Model Stocks.
“Hopefully we can find some speed for this weekend.”
Treyten Lapcevich: No. 32 Glenn Styres Racing Toyota
“[The Snowball Derby] is really special. It’s a race I’ve grown up watching, and I know a lot of big names have been made there. It’s really special that I’m able to go there with the family team and have my own family with me, too. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m really excited for it.”
Caden Kvapil: No. 32 Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet
“The Snowball Derby is one of the most prestigious races in short track racing, so it makes it really important to myself because you are racing the best of the best. In the one week you’re here, you can learn so much about the track, car and your racing. The prestige of this event makes the short track scene a whole lot better since it is so known for the awesome racing it puts on.”
Luke Fenhaus: No. 26 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet
“The Snowball Derby is what everyone looks forward to all year long. It’s the Daytona 500 in short track racing where all the fans and racers end their year at. It’s the greatest week in short track racing and also the hardest.”
Fresh off an All American 400 victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, 2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion William Sawalich seeks to win the Snowball Derby in his first appearance.(Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/ARCA Racing)
William Sawalich: No. 2 Soundgear/Starkey Hearing/ Toyota
“[The Snowball Derby] means a lot. It’s a really cool race, and it would mean a lot to win it. There’s so much prep before that race, and all the teams put a lot of hard work into the cars before even testing. It’d be pretty cool to win that one.”
Travis Braden: No. 21 Cook Electrical/Jett Motorsports Toyota (2019 winner)
“The [Snowball] Derby is such a spectacle from start to finish, and like most historic events, it seems to become more meaningful to the competitors and loyal audience with time. Speaking of my own experience, having not raced in the south much throughout my career. And not getting my first start in the Derby until 2019, I didn’t always understand the extent of what it means to chase that Tom Dawson Trophy as an outsider.
“Now, after competing in the event twice, the anticipation is massive each year as the regular season championships wrap up and focus shifts to, ‘Who will win this year’s Derby?’”
Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 4
James Gilbert | Getty Images
Winner: Cole Custer
Key highlights: The battle for the 2023 Xfinity Series title was thrilling right to the very end. Cole Custer steered his way to a career-first series title after slipping from first to third on the final restart. Fellow championship contender John Hunter Nemechek held a fleeting lead but couldn’t turn his No. 20 Toyota in Turn 1 and lost the top spot to Justin Allgaier. It was Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Custer duking it out for the title on the final laps. Custer emerged with a narrow overtime victory to claim the Xfinity Series championship.
Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 3
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Winner: Christian Eckes (race), Ben Rhodes (Championship)
Key highlights: In a race that saw 29 laps of overtime racing, Ben Rhodes came away with his second-career Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Christian Eckes, who was eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was the race winner. Championship runner-up Grant Enfinger gave it his all on the final restart in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet coming off Turn 4 in an all-out pursuit to the very end. The other two championship contenders, Heim and Hocevar had a more contentious situation on-track. Heim, whose 47 laps out front in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota were second most laps led on the night, was leading the championship-eligible drivers when Hocevar hit him going into Turn 2 with 30 laps remaining. Hocevar’s No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet was credited with a 29th-place finish from the garage, while Heim was scored 18th.
Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.
Championship 4: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 5
Winner: Ross Chastain (race);Ryan Blaney (championship)
Key highlights: William Byron set the tone for the Championship 4 weekend by claiming the Busch Light Pole Award and leading each of the first 92 laps on his way toward winning Stage 1. Christopher Bell, making his second straight appearance in the title round, didn’t make it much further than that. A brake failure at Lap 109 sent his No. 20 Toyota into the Turn 3 wall and ended his shot at the 2023 championship. As Byron’s early speed faded, Ross Chastain moved to the front of the field — while Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford roared to life. A late caution for a spin by Kyle Busch allowed Kyle Larson’s pit crew to work its magic as Larson leaped ahead of Blaney and stayed ahead of Byron ahead of the race’s final restart with 31 laps to go. But Blaney was able to charge back by Larson in a masterful battle. Chastain sailed to the race win after leading a race-high 157 laps, but Blaney sealed his first NASCAR Cup Series championship with a runner-up finish in the season finale.
NASHVILLE – Comcast announced Wednesday that NASCAR driver Ryan Vargas has been selected as the 2023 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, honoring him for his philanthropic work with FACES: The National Craniofacial Association.
Vargas was recognized as the ninth recipient of the award at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel as part of the NASCAR Champion’s Week season-ending celebration.
Vargas was awarded a $60,000 prize that goes toward the charity, a cause with deep personal meaning for the 23-year-old driver. Vargas was born with craniosynostosis, a birth defect that stems from an abnormal, premature fusing of the bones in a baby’s skull. He has used his platform and spirit to raise awareness for children facing similar health challenges and said that the Comcast award’s donation will help their families with medical bills, travel and experiences at FACES summer camp.
“FACES is here to try and help that, and something like this from Comcast is a massive, massive deal,” Vargas said, pausing as he received congratulations from Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, the 2020 award recipient. “For what FACES does for a lot of these kids, for a lot of these young adults, for a lot of these families, it is insane the amount of impact that they really do have.”
Vargas was chosen from a panel of executives at Comcast and NASCAR, and Jes Ferreira, the 2022 Comcast Community Champion. Matt Lederer, Comcast vice president and Wednesday’s top-prize presenter, said that the vote was the closest in the award’s nine-year history.
Fellow driver Jessica Friesen and team owner Max Siegel were the award’s other two finalists, and both will receive $30,000 for their designated charities. Friesen’s involvement with the Crossroads Center for Children has been critical in raising funds and spreading awareness in treating autism. Siegel’s work with the Max Siegel Youth Foundation has assisted at-risk youth with opportunities and empowerment, and his Rev Racing organization has been an important development team for aspiring minority racers and crew members.
Vargas competed in seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races last year, notching his first top-10 finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April. He has also been a regular in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in past seasons.
Vargas bears lightning-bolt-shaped scars from corrective surgery just before his first birthday. He has used the scar as a focal point in raising awareness about the ailment and inspiring other young people with craniosynostosis. When he made his Xfinity Series debut in an unsponsored entry in 2019, he promoted the Cranio Care Bears organization and FACES on his car to help spread the word.
“Seeing all the other stories of all these different people who have all these different types of cranial-facial differences that are no different than I am, that is something that I wanted to bring attention to because not many people know about it,” Vargas said. “When I go to the race track, people see my scar, and they think, ‘Oh, you did that like Lightning McQueen alongside of your head?’ And it’s like, ‘No, it’s a scar.’ And people are like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it,’ and it’s like, ‘No, let me tell you about it.’ I want to tell people about these things because if I’m not going to be in this sport and have the platform that I have, I’m very fortunate to have the platform that I have here in this sport, and if I’m not using it to uplift, then I don’t deserve it.”
Vargas received a standing ovation from the room and tearful congratulations from the many well-wishers at his table, including representatives from FACES on hand for Wednesday’s festivities. Among them was FACES communications director Emily McKay, who was the first to give Vargas a hug when his name flashed on the screen as the winner.
McKay said that she has seen first-hand the impact Vargas has had as both a member of the FACES board and a participant in camp activities. She said that a 15-year-old junior counselor at the camp took Vargas’ message to heart, telling his parents that he could aspire to be anything he wanted and that his cranial condition was not a hindrance. That example, McKay says, was one of many.
“For such a young man to understand the need for the advocacy for kids with cranial-facial differences, it has just astounded me,” McKay said. “He has been so generous with our social media and doing TikToks. Anything we asked him, he does. He comes to the board meetings via Zoom, but his passion for such a young man, not only professionally in what he does, which I’m astounded at, but what he does for the craniofacial community, and he’s just going to continue doing it. …
“As far as Ryan goes, this $60,000, I was crying when we received it. It is going to help so many families and kids with travel services to get to the craniofacial surgeries they need. For Ryan to be nominated for this and have us as the nonprofit, we’re just so honored to know that young man.”
This year, Comcast crossed the $1 million mark in donations made to the nonprofit organizations represented by the award’s finalists. The organization also announced Wednesday that it made a $10,000 donation to the Sherry Strong Foundation, honoring the memory of Sherry Pollex, a finalist for the 2022 Comcast Community Champion award.
NASCAR announced its new media rights agreement for the NASCAR Cup Series on Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee, with four best-in-class distribution partners set to deliver live Cup Series races beginning in 2025.
Read below for additional information, in Q-and-A format.
How long is the new media rights agreement?
It’s a seven-year deal, beginning in 2025 and running through 2031. That timeframe aligns with the previously announced NASCAR Xfinity Series rights deal — the Xfinity Series will run exclusively on The CW Network from 2025-31.
Who are the four TV partners?
FOX Sports, NBC Sports, Amazon’s Prime Video and TNT Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.
So, there are two new partners?
Yes. Incumbents FOX Sports and NBC Sports return following the conclusion of the current 10-year agreement, which goes through the 2024 season. Prime Video and TNT Sports both join as new partners — although TNT previously had a 32-year history with NASCAR.
What is the breakdown of races?
Out of 38 total events (including the preseason Busch Light Clash and the All-Star Race), FOX Sports and NBC Sports will carry 14 races each. The FOX Sports portion kicks off the season while NBC Sports’ coverage will encompass the final 14 events of the year, including the NASCAR Playoffs and Championship race.
How many of those races are on broadcast vs. cable?
Five Cup events will air on FOX and four Cup events will air on NBC annually. The remaining events will air on FS1 and USA Network, respectively. Certain races will be simulcast on Peacock over the final NBC stretch as well.
What’s the breakdown of the remaining events?
Prime Video and TNT Sports will evenly split a series of 10 midseason races. Five races on Prime Video come after the FOX portion of the season ends, followed by five races on TNT Sports platforms.
Are any races on streaming platforms?
Yes. Prime Video is NASCAR’s first fully direct-to-consumer partner. TNT Sports will simultaneously broadcast its races live on TNT and streaming on the B/R Sports Add-On tier on Max.
What about practice and qualifying?
Prime Video and TNT Sports have the exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for the entire Cup Series schedule through 2031. Prime Video will stream practice and qualifying live from the start of the season through Prime Video’s final race of the midseason series — except for The Busch Light Clash, Daytona 500 and NASCAR All-Star Race, whose practice and qualifying will remain with FOX Sports. Practice and qualifying for the remainder of the season will stream on Max and air on truTV.
What about the Craftsman Truck Series?
Live events for the entire 23-race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season will air on FS1 through 2031.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced it has reached new seven-year media rights agreements for the NASCAR Cup Series with four best-in-class distribution partners — FOX Sports, NBC Sports, Amazon’s Prime Video and TNT Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery — to deliver live coverage of all 38 NASCAR Cup Series races beginning in 2025 and extending through the 2031 season. Financial terms of these agreements were not disclosed.
FOX Sports and NBC Sports will continue to carry the majority of NASCAR Cup Series races with 14 events each. The FOX Sports portion of the Cup Series schedule, which kicks off the season with The Busch Light Clash followed by “The Great American Race,” The DAYTONA 500, will also include live events for the entire NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. NBC Sports’ coverage of the Cup Series will encompass the final 14 events of the season, including the Playoffs and Championship race. Both partners will feature a mix of broadcast and cable events, with five Cup events airing on FOX and four on NBC annually. The remaining events will air on FS1 and USA Network, respectively.
As part of this historic agreement, the NASCAR Cup Series will welcome two new broadcast partners in 2025 — Prime Video and TNT Sports — that will evenly split a series of 10 midseason races. Both have also obtained exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for the entire Cup Series schedule through 2031. NASCAR’s first fully direct-to-consumer partner, Prime Video will stream practice and qualifying live for the first half of the season through their last race of the midseason series with the exceptions of the Busch Light Clash, DAYTONA 500 and NASCAR All-Star Race, which will remain with FOX Sports. TNT Sports will initiate its coverage with the next five midseason races simultaneously broadcast live on TNT and streaming on the B/R Sports Add-On on Max. Practice and qualifying for the remainder of the season will stream on Max and air on truTV.
“Our goal was to secure long-term stability with an optimized mix of distribution platforms and innovative partners that would allow us to grow the sport while delivering our product to fans wherever they are — and we’ve achieved that today,” said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. “NASCAR has been a cornerstone property for both new and established platforms for several decades. These agreements demonstrate the staying power of our sport and the consistent, large-scale audience it delivers. This landmark deal underscores our collective growth opportunity to drive engagement across this diverse collection of platforms — whether on broadcast, cable or direct-to-consumer. With the talented young drivers, exciting new teams and record-breaking racing we’ve seen since the Next Gen car was introduced in 2022, we’re looking forward to working with each of these partners to bring some of the best racing in the world to fans everywhere.”
“These agreements not only show NASCAR’s importance to the sports and entertainment ecosystem, but also the willingness of some of the world’s largest and most respected media companies to make significant investments in America’s leading motorsport,” said Brian Herbst, NASCAR’s senior vice president, media and productions. “The media landscape is rapidly evolving, with new distribution platforms providing more options to the consumer than ever before. This is the right mix of media partners to promote and deliver content around our sport — positioning NASCAR for growth across different mediums and giving our fans uninterrupted access on the established platforms that they are already using. We are excited to work with this best-in-class group of media companies to deliver the best of NASCAR racing and the excitement of live sports to our fans.”
FOX Sports
Building upon a successful relationship of more than two decades, FOX Sports and NASCAR have extended their multi-series media rights agreement to carry 14 NASCAR Cup Series races, including practice and qualifying for the Busch Light Clash, DAYTONA 500 and NASCAR All-Star Race as well as exclusive rights for the entire 23-race NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule from 2025 through 2031. As in previous years, NASCAR Cup Series races will appear on both FOX and FS1 with all NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races on FS1.
“We are proud to begin the next chapter of what will soon be a three-decade relationship with our friends at NASCAR,” said FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks. “As the continued home of the DAYTONA 500, we look forward to getting every season off to a roaring start.”
NBC Sports
Continuing its coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for an additional seven years, NBC Sports will air the final 14 races of the season culminating with the Cup Series Championship Race. This multi-platform agreement will feature a mix of races and content on NBC, USA Network and Peacock in 2025-2031.
“We are thrilled that the NASCAR champion will continue to be crowned on our platforms for years to come,” said NBC Sports President Rick Cordella. “Whether it’s the unpredictability of a superspeedway, a Playoff cutoff race, or the championship finale, NBC Sports will use its wide array of platforms to present the dramatic conclusion to every NASCAR season for what will be 17 years at the end of this extension.”
Prime Video
Prime Video will exclusively stream five NASCAR Cup Series races as part of the streaming service’s first foray into live motorsports. As part of this seven-year deal, Prime Video will also offer exclusive coverage of practice and qualifying for the first half of the NASCAR Cup Series season (excluding The Clash, Daytona 500 and All-Star races). Prime Video is also working with NASCAR Studios on an upcoming Garage 56 documentary. All NASCAR races, qualifying, practices, and other content will be available to Prime members in the U.S.
“NASCAR is the most popular motorsport in the country, and we can’t wait to deliver Cup Series racing to Prime members in the U.S. for the first time,” said Jay Marine, vice president and global head of sports at Prime Video. “We are excited to find ways to get NASCAR fans closer to the racing than ever before, and we are proud to contribute to the growth of the sport in the years ahead.”
TNT Sports
TNT Sports — which has previously had a 32-year history with NASCAR — will offer NASCAR Cup Series content across multiple platforms. TNT Sports races will stream live on the B/R Sports Add-On on Max, along with the return of live race telecasts on TNT for the first time since 2014. All second-half practice and qualifying events will be simulcast on Max and truTV. Bleacher Report will also feature NASCAR content across its social, digital and mobile platforms.
“We are thrilled to welcome NASCAR back to TNT Sports, and build on our rich, shared history of providing immersive fan experiences that only our world-class team can deliver,” said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. “This agreement expands our portfolio of premium sports content throughout the summer and further elevates Max and our leading linear networks. We look forward to utilizing all of our resources to create new opportunities for compelling storytelling that connects with our fans, as we present the thrilling action and excitement on the track in innovative ways throughout the entire NASCAR season.”
As previously announced, The CW Network is set to become the exclusive home to the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2025 and extending through the 2031 season with 33 live races, along with practice and qualifying events each weekend. All Xfinity Series races and ancillary content will be fully produced by NASCAR Productions in close collaboration with The CW Network and will include additional viewing opportunities on The CW’s digital platforms.
