When NASCAR announced it was moving its secondary series to a network best known for Gossip Girl and superhero dramas, people definitely raised an eyebrow. Honestly, the skepticism was everywhere. But looking back at the 2025 season, the cw nascar xfinity series ratings didn’t just meet expectations; they kinda blew the doors off the previous year's cable-heavy stats.
In 2025, the series averaged 1,034,000 viewers per race. That’s a 10 percent jump compared to the 2024 season. It’s also the most-watched season for the series in four years. If you’re a fan, you’ve probably noticed the difference. The move from cable channels like USA Network and FS1 to a free-to-air broadcast network like The CW fundamentally changed how accessible the sport is. Basically, anyone with an antenna can now watch the next generation of Cup stars without a $70-a-month cable bill.
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The 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway was a perfect example of this growth. Jesse Love took home the championship in front of 1.015 million viewers on The CW. That race actually peaked at 1.191 million during the final fifteen minutes. For a Saturday night in November, competing against high-stakes college football and other major sports, those numbers are massive for the Xfinity Series.
What’s Driving the CW NASCAR Xfinity Series Ratings?
It isn't just about being "free." Accessibility is a huge part of the puzzle, but the quality of the production shifted too. NASCAR Productions took over the heavy lifting, using their new state-of-the-art facility in Concord, North Carolina. The broadcast felt different. It was faster, the graphics were cleaner, and they introduced that horizontal standings board at the bottom of the screen which fans actually seemed to like.
Look at the season opener at Daytona. That race brought in 1.8 million viewers. That is the highest viewership for any Xfinity race in nearly three years. People showed up.
Then you have the consistency. For the first time in nearly a decade, the first 13 races of the season each pulled in over a million viewers. In the TV world, consistency is everything. Advertisers aren't looking for one-off spikes; they want a loyal audience that shows up week after week. The CW delivered exactly that.
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The strategy was pretty simple. While the Cup Series split itself across four or five different platforms—making it a bit of a scavenger hunt for fans—the Xfinity Series stayed put. One home. Every race. If it’s Saturday afternoon, it’s on The CW. This "single-home" approach probably saved a lot of remote-control frustration and helped stabilize the cw nascar xfinity series ratings throughout the long summer months.
Comparing the Numbers: 2024 vs. 2025
The data tells a pretty clear story when you look at individual tracks.
- Daytona (United Rentals 300): 0.933 million in 2024 vs. 1.825 million in 2025. That is a massive 95% increase.
- Talladega (Ag-Pro 300): 1.260 million in 2024 vs. 1.602 million in 2025.
- Atlanta: 1.190 million in 2024 vs. 1.306 million in 2025.
Not every race was a record-breaker, though. There were some soft spots. For instance, the Watkins Glen race in 2025 pulled about 1.096 million. While that's solid, it shows that the "broadcast bump" has its limits depending on what else is on TV that day. But even in the "down" weeks, the numbers usually stayed above or near that million-viewer mark.
The Demographic Shift
One of the most interesting parts of the cw nascar xfinity series ratings story is who is actually watching. We often hear that NASCAR’s audience is getting older, but The CW saw a 7 percent gain in the 18-49 demographic. That is the "holy grail" for TV executives.
Why did it happen? Maybe it's the "100 Days to Indy" effect where The CW’s existing audience started sampling the sports content. Or maybe younger fans, who are more likely to be "cord-cutters," finally have a way to watch the races without a subscription. Whatever the reason, the "netlet" (as industry insiders sometimes call The CW) is proving that broadcast TV still has plenty of life left in it.
Brad Schwartz, the President of The CW, mentioned that NASCAR helped transform the network into a "premium destination for sports." He’s not wrong. When you look at their lineup now—ACC football, WWE NXT, and NASCAR—it’s clear they aren't just the "teen drama" channel anymore.
Why Does This Matter for the Future of Racing?
The $800 million deal runs through 2031. That is a long time in the media world. If the ratings keep trending upward or even stay flat at these levels, it gives NASCAR a lot of leverage for the next round of negotiations. It also proves that the Xfinity Series can stand on its own as a primary piece of content, rather than just being a "lead-in" for the Cup Series.
For the drivers, more eyeballs mean more sponsorship value. If a car is seen by 1.1 million people instead of 800,000, that’s a real dollar difference for the teams. In a sport where the business model is so dependent on decals and logos, the cw nascar xfinity series ratings are literally the lifeblood of the garage.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Advertisers
If you’re following the business of the sport, here is what you need to keep in mind:
- Check Local Listings: Because The CW relies on local affiliates, some markets might have pre-emptions for local news or other events. Use the CW app to stream if your local station isn't playing ball.
- Watch the 18-49 Demo: If this continues to grow, expect to see more "lifestyle" brands sponsoring cars instead of just the traditional tool and auto parts companies.
- One-Home Stability: The "exclusive" nature of the deal is its biggest strength. Don't expect the Xfinity Series to jump around to different channels mid-season. It's locked in.
- Production Evolution: NASCAR Productions is likely to keep tweaking the broadcast. If you have feedback on the graphics or the "horizontal standings," social media is usually where they look for fan sentiment.
The inaugural full season on The CW proved that moving to broadcast was a smart gamble. It simplified the viewing experience and brought in a younger crowd. As we head into the 2026 season, the goal will be to maintain that million-viewer floor and see if the "Daytona 1.8 million" magic can strike a few more times a year.