NASCAR’s secondary series is facing a huge brand change, leaving the title name “Xfinity Series” to become the brand-new O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. What is not changing, however, is its broadcast partner. The CW is headed for its 2nd season with the series and has been investing heavily in it. Year after year, we put up the rating numbers and rank them accordingly in comparison to the previous season. Here’s how it works:
We will directly compare each race’s viewership from 2025 to that race’s (or closest comparable race’s) 2026 viewership. We will also keep a tally of how each race weekend fared compared to the same weekend last season.
This can be confusing, as the “2026 Season as a Whole” section compares races not directly to themselves, but to their corresponding 2025 race weekends. For example, in that section, the 3rd race of the year is compared to 2025’s 3rd race of the season, regardless of the race track.
If necessary, we will also address any potential dips in ratings, such as weather delays, postponements, or debuting races, like San Diego taking over for the Mexico City race.
Race
2025 Viewership
2026 Viewership
Daytona (Spring)
1.825 Million
1.812 Million
Atlanta (Spring)
1.306 Million
1.366 Million
Circuit of the Americas
1.120 Million
1.072 Million
Phoenix (Spring)
1.200 Million
1.159 Million
Las Vegas (Spring)
1.188 Million
1.081 Million
Darlington (Spring)
1.120 Million
1.182 Million
Martinsville (Spring)
1.014 Million
1.198 Million
Rockingham
1.053 Million
1.165 Million
Bristol (Spring)
1.220 Million
1.002 Million
Kansas (Spring)
1.180 Million
No Comparable Data
Talladega (Spring)
1.260 Million
1.339 Million
Texas
1.110 Million
1.002 Million
WatkinsGlen
1.096 Million
1.013 Million
Dover
1.047 Million
1.051 Million
Charlotte (Spring)
0.945 Million
1.148 Million
Nashville
0.988 Million
1.123 Million
Breaking Down and Analyzing the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Season as a Whole
In this section, we will compare the 2026 season to the 2025 season week by week. There is data missing from this section, as 2025 data will only be added one calendar year after that race occurred.
This section will also compare the 2025 playoff race viewership to the 2026 Chase viewership upon the beginning of the 2026 NASCAR OAP Series Chase. This breakdown can show a change in trends, or how changes to the system during the offseason have affected playoff viewership.
All Races (16 Total in 2026):
Includes data from all races. If data is missing, we will note which race it is from.
2026 Total/Average Viewership to Date: (Available Data From 15 of 33 Races): 19.123 Million/1.195 Million Per Race
2025 Total/Average Viewership to Date (Available Data From 32 of 33 Races): 18.266 Million/1.142 Million Per Race
Total Viewership Difference (2026 vs 2025): +0.857 Million (+4.692%)
Average Viewership Difference (2026 vs 2025): +0.054 Million (+4.692%)
Comparing the 2025 and 2026 Season Race by Race (All Races on The CW)
Viewership Comparison (2025 vs 2026): +0.135 Million Viewers (+13.664%)
*In 2026, race 16 of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season was at Pocono Raceway, and drew 1.120 million viewers. This number will be used in our breakdown above.
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Charbroil 300
2025 Viewership: 1.148 Million Viewers*
2026 Viewership: 0.945 Million Viewers**
Viewership Comparison (2025 vs 2026): -0.203 Million Viewers (-17.683%)
*In 2026, race 15 of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season was in Mexico City, and drew 0.988 million viewers. This number will be used in our breakdown above.
**The 2026 race at Charlotte was affected by rain.
Dover Motor Speedway – BetRivers 200
2025 Viewership: 1.096 Million Viewers**
2026 Viewership: 1.013 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2025 vs 2026): +0.004 Million Viewers (+0.382%)
**In 2025, week 14 of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season was at Nashville Superspeedway and drew 0.988 million viewers. This number will be used in our breakdown above.
Watkins Glen International – Mission 200 at The Glen
2025 Viewership: 1.096 Million Viewers**
2026 Viewership: 1.013 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2025 vs 2026): -0.083 Million Viewers (-7.573%)
**In 2025, week 13 of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season was at Charlotte Motor Speedway and drew 1.148 million viewers. This number will be used in our breakdown above.
Texas Motor Speedway – Andy’s Frozen Custard 340
2026 Viewership: 1.110 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.002 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.108 Million (+10.778%)
Rockingham Speedway – North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black’s Tire
2026 Viewership: 1.339 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.260 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.079 Million (+6.270%)
Kansas Speedway – Kansas Lottery 300
2026 Viewership: 1.220 Million Viewers*
2025 Viewership: No Data**
*In 2025, race 10 was at Rockingham Speedway and drew 1.053 million viewers, which will be used for our season as a whole comparison.
**In 2025, there was no spring NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Kansas Speedway.
Bristol Motor Speedway – Suburban Propane 300
2026 Viewership: 1.220 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.001 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.219 Million (+21.878%)
Rockingham Speedway – North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black’s Tire
2026 Viewership: 1.165 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.053 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.112 Million (+10.636%)
Martinsville Speedway (Spring) – NFPA 250
2026 Viewership: 1.198 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.014 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.184 Million (+18.146%)
Darlington Raceway (Spring) – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200
2026 Viewership: 1.182 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.120 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.062 Million (+5.536%)
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Spring) – The LiUNA
2026 Viewership: 1.188 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.081 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.107 Million (+9.898%)
Phoenix Raceway (Spring) – GOVX 200
2026 Viewership: 1.159 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.200 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): -0.041 Million (-3.417%)
Circuit of the Americas – Focused Health 250
2026 Viewership: 1.072 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.120 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): -0.048 Million (-4.286%)
Atlanta (Spring) – Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250
2026 Viewership: 1.366 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.306 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): +0.060 Million (+4.594%)
Daytona (Spring) – United Rentals 300
2026 Viewership: 1.812 Million Viewers
2025 Viewership: 1.825 Million Viewers
Viewership Comparison (2024 vs 2025): -0.013 Million (-0.717%)
This tracker will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to check back in for the latest!
