The NASCAR Xfinity Series wrapped its 2025 season on Saturday with a championship race from Phoenix Raceway, capping the network’s first full year of airing the series with its highest viewership in four years.
Over 33 races, the series averaged 1,034,000 total viewers per week, according to Nielsen, marking a 10 percent increase compared with last season. Adults ages 18-49 also saw a seven percent gain. Saturday’s finale, which crowned Jesse Love as the season champion, drew 1,015,000 total viewers and peaked at 1,191,000 from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET.
“Over the course of its first year on The CW, the NASCAR Xfinity Series has helped transform the network into a premium destination for sports,” said Brad Schwartz, president of The CW Network. “The success and growth of the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year showcases the unmatched power of broadcast television to connect with fans, both locally and nationally. We’re grateful for our partnership with the amazing team at NASCAR Productions, whose dedication helped make this inaugural season truly unforgettable.”
Schwartz added that the network looks forward to continuing the momentum into Daytona in 2026.
Brian Herbst, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief media and revenue officer, emphasized the role of fresh storytelling and accessibility in the series’ success. “By combining world-class racing with fresh storytelling and broad accessibility, we’ve been able to deliver incredible moments to both life-long fans and first-time viewers,” Herbst said.
The 2025 season on The CW kicked off with a high-octane start at Daytona International Speedway, drawing 1.8 million viewers — the largest audience for any Xfinity Series race in nearly three years. The first 13 races of the season each surpassed one million viewers, a feat the series had not achieved in almost a decade.
The network also introduced a new graphic package for the series, including a horizontal standings board at the bottom of the screen, while NASCAR Productions’ state-of-the-art studio brought fans closer to the action than ever. Strategic partnerships with sponsors and advertisers helped elevate brands on both national and local levels throughout the season.
Looking ahead, NASCAR will return to The CW in 2026, beginning with NASCAR COUNTDOWN LIVE from Daytona’s infield on Saturday, February 14. Play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander will return to the booth alongside analysts Jamie McMurray and Parker Kligerman.
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