They say a sport is only as strong as its audience, and for NASCAR in 2025, that audience is shrinking. The Cup Series is averaging around 2.52 million viewers per race, down about 13% from 2024’s 2.916 million average. In Kansas, the playoff broadcast drew just 1.49 million viewers, a steep drop from 1.79 million the year before. But viewership is only one symptom of a deeper problem.

When the Charlotte Roval playoff race closed in a meltdown, Ross Chastain crashed into Denny Hamlin in desperation, playoff elimination loomed, and post-race reviews had NASCAR double-check who actually advanced. The spectacle made headlines, but many fans felt lost in the chaos. Combine that with rising critiques of NASCAR’s format, with ‘cheap thrills’ taking precedence over clean, competitive racing. And

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