What’s Behind the Xfinity Series Ratings Surge and the Truck Series’ Ongoing Slump?

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - MARCH 22: Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet, celebrates with the 100,000 check in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 22, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

The NASCAR National Series consists of the three NASCAR top touring divisions of NASCAR. This season, the two lower series, the Trucks and Xfinity Series, are seeing two drastically different levels of viewership. So, what surface factors could be causing this, and what other factors might be in play?

The Ratings Game

Ratings and viewership were going to be a major storyline of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season this year. After all, it’s the series’ first full season on the massive CW Network and its first season on a solo network since 2014.

Viewership was expected to increase in 2025 after a messy 2024 season, in which the Series raced on FS1, FOX, NBC, USA Network, and the CW. However, right out of the gate, the CW has exploded in viewership. Through the first six races of 2025, the CW is up 1.764 million viewers over 2024 and is averaging 0.294 million more viewers than the 2024 season through its first six races.

The Series made an immediate splash in 2025, with a whopping 1.825 million viewers for the season opener at Daytona, a 95.606% increase from 2024’s 0.933 million viewers. This was second best to the Cup Series, which had 6.761 for the Daytona 500, and led the ARCA Menards Series, the fourth national touring series in NASCAR, which had 1.160 million viewers on FOX.

The Truck Series’ Tough Start to the Season

However, leaving Daytona, the biggest shock of all was the Truck Series, who, for the first time since 2018, failed to draw 1 million viewers for the Friday night race. This minuscule 0.990 million viewers followed a three-year high of 1.057 million viewers in 2024.

These viewership struggles continued in Atlanta, where the series saw a 26.149% decrease from 2024, and Las Vegas, where a rain-delayed race saw a 46.269% decrease from 2024. While the Trucks have yet to break 1 million viewers for a race this season, topping out at 0.990 million at Daytona, the Xfinity Series has yet to drop below a million, having seen yet another boost this past weekend.  

So, what could be the reason for such a stark difference in NASCAR’s secondary and tertiary levels?

A Fresh Look?

While the Truck Series lost to ARCA at Daytona, outside factors, such as Cleetus McFarland’s NASCAR debut and the race being on “Big” FOX, affected this. Similar things are in play with the Xfinity and Truck Series right now.

A refreshed look for the Xfinity Series on the CW was always going to draw eyes and interest. While this viewership fell from 1.825 to 1.306 from Daytona to Atlanta, the series has stabilized. This is perhaps thanks to the CW’s massive network, which, despite regional race day blackouts, they claim, “reaches 100% of US television households.”

The trucks are mostly on the cable channel FS1 but soared back to almost a million viewers this past weekend at Homestead when airing on “Big FOX.” However, the on-track product, or rather, those taking part in the on-track product, could be the difference maker.

Star Power?

For example, the Xfinity Series Rookie class alone is packed with big-name prospects like Carson Kvapil, Christian Eckes, Connor Zilisch, Nick Sanchez, Taylor Gray, and William Sawalich. These drivers, alongside favorites like Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, and Sam Mayer, draw a stark contrast to a talented Truck Series field that lacks star power.

While the Trucks have a fair share of big names, like Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, and Daniel Hemric, the Truck Series rookie class does not have the name power that the Xfinity Series has.

That’s not to say the rookie class doesn’t have big names, such as Frankie Muniz and Toni Breidinger; the fact is most of them have yet to make a name for themselves as future needle pushers in NASCAR. After all, isn’t this the point of the Truck Series, to begin molding the future of NASCAR for a national audience?

Either way, both series have solid racing and a swath of talent racing, yet the Xfinity Series has the upper hand in popularity in the foreseeable future.

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NASCAR Suspends Multiple Cup Series Crew Members After COTA

What’s Happening?

Two NASCAR Cup Series crew members for Ross Chastain’s No. 1 team were suspended following the race at Circuit of the Americas

  • The crew members suspended were rear-tire changer Josh Appleby and jackman Kenneth Pozega.
  • They will be sidelined for two weeks, missing the races at Phoenix Raceway on March 8th and Las Vegas on March 15th.
  • The penalty comes after Ross Chastain had a loose wheel at Circuit of the Americas while running 13th. On lap 75, his wheel detached from the car, bringing out a caution. Right after the incident, Chastain was also held for 2 laps as part of the penalty, as specified in the rulebook.
  • Chastain ended up finishing 35th after winning stage 1 and grabbing the fastest lap of the race. The result dropped him 9 spots on the point standings. He sits 20th with 64 points, 4 behind Ryan Preece, who holds the final Chase spot for now.
  • It’s the first time in the 2026 NASCAR season that crew members have been penalized for a loose wheel outside of pit road.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

NASCAR Reveals Full Details on The Crew Motorfest Content Update

What’s Happening?

On February 17, Ubisoft released a trailer that confirmed that NASCAR would be included in The Crew Motorfest’s next season update. Details were limited at the time, but in a press release issued today, Ubisoft revealed the full details of the update ahead of its March 4 launch.

What NASCAR Content will be Included?

  • 16 officially licensed NASCAR cars will be available at launch on March 4.
  • The 3 Next Gen Cup cars include the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, 2025 Chevrolet ZL1, and 2025 Toyota Camry XSE.
  • A 10-event NASCAR Motorfest Tour Playlist will run from qualifying rounds through finals, with players competing for the NASCAR Motorfest Tour Champion title.
  • NASCAR cars will be drivable across the full open world, not limited to playlist events.
  • NASCAR content launches March 4 as part of Season 9, which includes 31 total new vehicles across the broader season.

What Else is Included in the Update?

  • Season 9 features 31 total vehicle additions. Of those, 16 are NASCAR-related, but most are cosmetic team liveries rather than separate cars. In total, the season introduces 18 new drivable vehicles, with the remainder made up of cosmetic variations.
  • The 2019 Porsche 935 Racing Car arrives on April 1 as part of the Year Pass 3.
  • Trackforge debuts as a new user-generated track creator, offering two build templates: Motorsports and Coaster. It will have publishing and sharing functionality.
  • Custom circuits can be deployed across Moloka’i and Lanai, expanding playable layouts beyond developer-created events.
  • The RC Frenzy Playlist launches May 6, introducing two RC vehicles: Phazr General Rally Raid (2026) and Phazr Trickshot Street Tier 1 (2026). Both will be usable in dedicated events and the open world.
  • A new Island Playground, Summit Contest events, and weekly Main Stage activities round out the Season 9 content slate.

What Else has been Revealed?

Pit Stop Management
Crash Physics
Drafting System

Ubisoft says drafting will affect car speed and help save fuel, implying that drafting will be a huge factor in the game, at least with these cars. You can check out this and much more on Ubisoft’s official post linked below

Full Lineup and Prices

NASCAR Full Pack – 168,000 CC
  • HMS’s No. 9 Chevrolet (Chase Elliott)
  • HMS’s No. 24 Chevrolet (William Byron)
  • RCR’s No. 8 Chevrolet (Kyle Busch)
  • Trackhouse’s No. 1 Chevrolet (Ross Chastain)
  • Trackhouse’s No. 88 Chevrolet (Shane van Gisbergen)
  • Penske’s No. 12 Ford (Ryan Blaney)
  • Penske’s No. 22 Ford (Joey Logano)
  • RFK’s No. 6 Ford (Brad Keselowski)
  • 23XI’s No. 23 Toyota (Bubba Wallace)
  • 23XI’s No. 45 Toyota (Tyler Reddick)
  • JGR’s No. 19 Toyota (Chase Briscoe)
  • JGR’s No. 20 Toyota (Christopher Bell)
  • NASCAR Hoodie
NASCAR Chevrolet Pack – 122,500 CC
  • HMS’s No. 9 Chevrolet (Chase Elliott)
  • HMS’s No. 24 Chevrolet (William Byron)
  • RCR’s No. 8 Chevrolet (Kyle Busch)
  • Trackhouse’s No. 1 Chevrolet (Ross Chastain)
  • Trackhouse’s No. 88 Chevrolet (Shane van Gisbergen)
  • NASCAR Hoodie
NASCAR Ford Pack – 73,500 CC
  • Penske’s No. 12 Ford (Ryan Blaney)
  • Penske’s No. 22 Ford (Joey Logano)
  • RFK’s No. 6 Ford (Brad Keselowski)
  • NASCAR Hoodie
NASCAR Toyota Pack – 98,000 CC
  • 23XI’s No. 23 Toyota (Bubba Wallace)
  • 23XI’s No. 45 Toyota (Tyler Reddick)
  • JGR’s No. 19 Toyota (Chase Briscoe)
  • JGR’s No. 20 Toyota (Christopher Bell)
  • NASCAR Hoodie

Earlier this Tuesday, the official The Crew Motorfest account clarified confusion around the NASCAR bundles. The Crew Credit (CC) bundles only include cosmetic team liveries, not additional cars. The 3 base Next Gen cars (Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Toyota Camry XSE, and Chevrolet ZL1) are part of the free Season 9 update and can be purchased separately.

Mitch Rasmussen, NASCAR’s Senior Director of Interactive, said in the press release:

We’re excited to bring our iconic brand to life in The Crew Motorfest. This collaboration represents another important step in our strategy to bring NASCAR into the digital spaces and places where next generation fans spend their time, giving players new ways to interact with the culture and communities they love.

The content arrives as part of Year 3 Season 9 and is officially licensed by NASCAR. You can watch the first trailer and learn more in the article linked below

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Too Many Road Courses In NASCAR? | New Power Rankings Post-COTA!

Four road courses on the schedule, and somehow that’s enough to spark one of the biggest debates in the garage. After recent comments from Brad Keselowski questioning the business value of road racing, the conversation has picked up serious steam. Is NASCAR leaning too far into it, or is the current balance about right?

  • Are road courses truly underperforming in ratings and attendance compared to traditional ovals?
  • Does a venue like Circuit of the Americas represent a growth opportunity, or schedule oversaturation?
  • Should NASCAR prioritize sponsor markets over competitive variety?
  • And what does the ideal long-term schedule balance actually look like?

There are valid points on both sides, from sponsorship realities to fan traditions to competitive diversity. Some tracks have gained traction. Others have struggled. The question isn’t just whether road courses belong, but how many make sense within a 36-race season. It’s less about extremes and more about direction. And with future schedule changes always looming, this debate probably isn’t settled anytime soon.

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