FOX to air just five NASCAR Cup Series races on flagship network in favor of IndyCar

The times are changing in American motorsports. At least as far as TV goes. Is FOX abandoning NASCAR for IndyCar? Or can the two coexist on the network together?

Today it was announced that FOX and IndyCar had struck a new media rights deal. The network, which has received harsh criticism for its NASCAR broadcasts, is not only adding IndyCar. FOX will air all 17 points-paying races on their main network.

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic drew a quick comparison to how NASCAR is currently broadcast on FOX and FS1. The network will carry 14 Cup Series races in 2025 but only five of those are scheduled to be on the main network.

IndyCar also gets two additional days on big FOX with qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.

For context, Fox is only putting five of its 14 NASCAR Cup Series races on big Fox next year while airing 19 IndyCar windows on network (the 17 races plus both days of Indy 500 qualifying). Wow. https://t.co/6KNLYnskoi

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 13, 2024

It sounds like FOX is making a big investment in IndyCar. However, it also sounds like they are making a priority for the sport over the already existing NASCAR product. A product that they just renewed the media rights to, worth in total $7.7B over seven years.

Then again, what will it be like to have the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 on the same network? What about double-header weekends of racing on FOX? They lose out on the Coca-Cola 600, but adding the Indy 500 more than makes up for that.

There are concerns for NASCAR and IndyCar fans. When it comes to the Indy 500, NBC did a great job of making it feel like the hugely important race that it is. Even with the issues that Peacock has as a streaming platform and the lack of promotion largely, it was a solid product to watch.

Fans are right to be concerned that the problems that plague NASCAR races from a production standpoint could bleed into IndyCar coverage. Perhaps it will raise the overall value and quality of both?

If I am a NASCAR executive, this move from FOX doesn’t make me too happy. A quick look at ratings would tell you that the Cup Series has more value. Also, what happens if and when FOX decides to move the IndyCar races to FS1 in 2026 or 2027?

FOX has to put an effort into the IndyCar broadcasts. They have to learn from the mistakes they have made in the Cup Series. Motorsports fans deserve better. It also feels like FOX may not see themselves making it to the end of the new NASCAR media rights deal. What do you think?