The Complete 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on the CW TV Ratings Tracker

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, William Sawalich, driver of the #18 Soundgear Toyota, Brandon Jones, driver of the #20 Menards/Swiffer Toyota, and Corey Day, driver of the #17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images

What’s Happening?

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.

Race2025 Viewership2026 Viewership
Daytona (Spring)1.825 Million1.812 Million
Atlanta (Spring)1.306 Million1.366 Million
Circuit of the Americas1.120 Million1.072 Million
Phoenix (Spring)1.200 Million1.159 Million
Las Vegas (Spring)1.188 Million1.081 Million
Darlington (Spring)1.120 Million1.182 Million
Martinsville (Spring)1.014 Million1.198 Million
Rockingham1.053 Million1.165 Million
Bristol (Spring)1.220 Million1.002 Million
Kansas (Spring)1.180 MillionNo Comparable Data
Talladega (Spring)1.260 Million1.339 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 (11 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 10 Races): 13.881 Million/1.262 Million Per Race
  • 2025 Total/Average Viewership to Date (Available Data From 32 Races): 13.140 Million/1.195 Million Per Race
  • Total Viewership Difference (2026 vs 2025): +0.741 Million (+5.639%)
  • Average Viewership Difference (2026 vs 2025): +0.067 Million (+5.639%)

Comparing the 2025 and 2026 Season Race by Race (All Races on The CW)

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%)

Bristol Motor 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!

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