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SPEED Channel was the one stop shop for NASCAR in the 2000s. If you wanted racing, racing news, archived films, or anything else motorsports, you could turn to channel 70 in the 2000s to SPEED and get your fill.
SPEED was originally launched in 1995 as Speedvision. This channel was produced by FOX and focused on motorsports as a whole. From NASCAR to Monster Jam to the Rolex 24, Speedvision was the one-stop shop for all.
In 2001, the channel was rebranded to SPEED with a heavy emphasis on NASCAR. During this time, NASCAR was at its peak of popularity. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Steward, Bobby Labonte, and more were the center of the NASCAR world. From starring in commercials, cameos in movies, and more, NASCAR was everywhere in pop culture.
During this time, SPEED capitalized on the NASCAR focus with interviews, analytical shows, and behind-the-scenes episodes with titles such as Inside Nextel Cup, Legends of Motorsports, NASCAR in a Hurry, Fifth Gear, and many more. SPEED was dedicated to the car and motorsports enthusiast.
SPEED Channel’s last airing date was August 17th, 2013. After an eighteen-year run, the channel concluded. But why?
At the conclusion of 2012, FOX was unable to retain the rights for different motorsports avenues. F1 was going to NBC, and NASCAR was going to main FOX with a contract through 2022. This move made it not feasible to keep SPEED as FOX was focusing on sports as a whole with their new FOX Sports 1 (FS1) channel.
Early in 2013, FOX announced that SPEED would conclude its coverage in August of that year, and like that SPEED was no more.
SPEED has been off-air for eleven years now. FOX did not replace the full list of shows, but they did have Race Hub that aired nightly on FS1 until early 2024, when they announced the end of coverage at the conclusion of FOX’s duration of Cup Series coverage in 2024. This came as a shock to many because while viewership was not where expected, NASCAR fans truly loved the nightly aired show at 6 pm.
NASCAR had announced the opening of NASCAR Productions in December of 2023, but nobody knew what that really meant. That was until August 26th, 2024.
NASCAR is searching for staff for a new project called ‘FAST.’ It will be a 24/7 immersive NASCAR channel that will span past, present, and future with archives and new, original shows as well. This comes on the heels of a new docuseries in collaboration with Kaulig Racing titled ‘Trophy Hunting’. NASCAR is ready to be back in every living room every day, and the fans are ready, too.
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