The CW Network delivered a record-breaking racing weekend with its coverage of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona, drawing 1.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast national ratings. In a thrilling overtime finish on Saturday night, driver Jesse Love became the second-youngest winner in NASCAR Xfinity Series history at Daytona. Love led 30 of the 126 laps run including the final 18 laps leading to his second career series victory.
Saturday night’s broadcast on The CW was the most-watched NASCAR Xfinity Series race across any track or network since April 2022 at Talladega Motor Speedway. Viewership peaked at 2.2 million during the 7:30 p.m. quarter-hour as the race reached its dramatic conclusion. Compared to last year’s weather-impacted Daytona opener, total viewership increased by 93%, with double-digit percentage gains across key demographics.
This marks The CW’s first year airing the entire NASCAR Xfinity Series after its official announcement last April. The network announced then it would carry the final eight races of the 2024 season. Now the exclusive home of the NASCAR Xfinity Series through 2031, The CW will broadcast 33 live races annually, along with practice and qualifying events each weekend.
For the first time in series history, every NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television, with additional content accessible via The CW’s digital platforms. The network continues to expand its sports portfolio, which includes Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 sporting events, WWE NXT, Grand Slam Track, Inside the NFL, and more.
These impressive results also mark a strong start for Michael Perman, who was named The CW Network’s new senior vice president last week. Overseeing strategy, programming, and media rights, Perman is poised to play a key role in shaping the network’s sports coverage in the years ahead.
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