The 2025 NASCAR season is just weeks away, yet fans are fuming. While motorsport enthusiasts eagerly await the Daytona 500, many are asking the same question: Where are the ads hyping the “Great American Race”? Adding fuel to the fire, IndyCar—which kicks off in March—seems to be stealing the spotlight with a robust promotional blitz by FOX Sports.
IndyCar Takes Center Stage, NASCAR Left in the Shadows
Since securing exclusive broadcast rights for IndyCar in 2025, FOX Sports has rolled out the red carpet for Roger Penske’s series. High-quality commercials featuring drivers like Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward, and Alex Palou are already airing. Meanwhile, NASCAR’s promotional efforts for its season opener feel like an afterthought, leaving fans frustrated and voicing their concerns online.
One fan on social media wrote, “Fox has been doing some super marketing for IndyCar this off-season. We haven’t been seeing as much Daytona 500 and NASCAR promos from them this year 👀.”
NASCAR Truck Series driver Rajah Caruth chimed in, tweeting, “I haven’t seen any NASCAR ads lol. Little frustrating to say the least.”
Does the New Media Rights Deal Explain the Shift?
In 2023, NASCAR inked a record-breaking $7.7 billion media rights deal, splitting its coverage between NBC, Fox, Amazon, and Warner Bros Discovery through 2031. Starting in 2025, FOX will cover just 14 races in the Cup Series, a noticeable drop from 18 races in 2024. Meanwhile, the network is committing heavily to IndyCar, broadcasting its entire season for the first time.
This reduced NASCAR coverage might explain why FOX is pouring more energy into its new motorsport acquisition. But fans aren’t buying it. Many feel NASCAR, a sport with a massive and loyal fanbase, is being sidelined to accommodate a series with a smaller footprint in the U.S.
Fans and Drivers Call Out Fox’s Priorities
For years, NASCAR has relied on its partnership with FOX Sports to elevate its brand, especially during marquee events like the Daytona 500. However, many now believe FOX’s promotional priorities have shifted in favor of IndyCar, leaving the stock car racing community feeling abandoned.
NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck echoed fans’ concerns, pointing out how the drama of Daytona qualifying races might lose its luster with less attention from FOX. “If you were hoping to tune into the traditional Duel races to see if drivers could make the field, that drama is already gone,” Gluck remarked.
IndyCar’s Aggressive Marketing Strategy
Roger Penske’s IndyCar is sparing no expense in making its FOX debut a success. The commercials aren’t just about promoting races—they’re educating viewers about drivers and storylines, an approach NASCAR fans have long desired.
IndyCar’s smaller operational structure, with an estimated 51-200 employees, allows for focused marketing strategies. In contrast, NASCAR, with its 5,000-10,000 employees, may be slower to adapt and execute campaigns, leaving fans yearning for more.
Is the Daytona 500 Losing Its Luster?
While NASCAR has released a Daytona 500 commercial, fans were quick to critique its production value compared to IndyCar’s high-budget promotions. One fan sarcastically quipped, “Hopefully @NASCAR will get another year of cartoon superhero graphics. 😬🤞”
FOX Sports’ decision to heavily market IndyCar raises questions: Is the network prioritizing its new partnership at the expense of NASCAR? Or is this simply a temporary adjustment during the early days of their IndyCar contract?
Can NASCAR Reclaim Its Spotlight?
With just a month until the Daytona 500, fans are holding out hope for a late surge in promotional activity. For NASCAR, the Daytona 500 isn’t just a race—it’s the cornerstone of its identity. Any perceived neglect of the event is bound to spark outrage.
As one fan put it, “Fox is treating IndyCar like the shiny new toy, but NASCAR fans have been loyal for decades. We deserve better.”