For decades, the Daytona 500 has been the sacred season-opener of NASCAR, delivering a high-octane spectacle that sets the tone for the year. But now, the NFL’s growing empire may be threatening to disrupt one of motorsports’ most cherished traditions.
With reports that the Super Bowl could be moved to Presidents Day weekend, NASCAR faces a potential scheduling nightmare. Could “The Great American Race” be forced to shift dates to avoid clashing with the biggest television event in U.S. sports?
Not if NASCAR has anything to say about it.
NASCAR Won’t Be Bullied—Daytona 500 Stays Put
Despite the massive viewership gap between the two events—this year’s Super Bowl 59 shattered records with 127.7 million viewers, while the Daytona 500 peaked at 13.3 million in 2015—NASCAR is standing firm.
“We’re keeping tabs on it, for sure,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s SVP of racing development and strategy. “(And) having a lot of conversations with our partners, (and) a couple of conversations with the NFL as well.”
While acknowledging the undeniable power of the Super Bowl, NASCAR isn’t looking to simply bow down and adjust its marquee event.
The Daytona 500 has been a sellout for ten consecutive years and boasts a record-breaking $30 million purse in 2025—proof that its prestige and importance aren’t fading.
Would NASCAR Shift the Daytona 500? Here’s What They’re Considering
If the NFL extends its schedule and moves the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, NASCAR would have three choices:
- Keep the Daytona 500 on its current date and compete directly with the Super Bowl.
- Move the Daytona 500 up by one week, making it the weekend before the Super Bowl.
- Push the Daytona 500 to the weekend after the Super Bowl, maintaining a smooth transition between two major sporting events.
The third option appears to be the preferred strategy so far.
“We’ve discussed: do you go the weekend before? Do we stick with it the weekend after?” Kennedy said. “I think we tend to gravitate toward the latter of trying to come off the Super Bowl and go to the Daytona 500.”
This approach makes sense—NASCAR has traditionally let Super Bowl weekend breathe before using Daytona as the next massive sporting spectacle.
Can NASCAR Compete with the NFL? They’re Playing the Long Game
NASCAR understands that outright competing with the Super Bowl would be a losing battle, but they’re not backing down either.
Instead, NASCAR is taking a proactive approach, working closely with broadcast partners FOX, Amazon, and TNT to maximize exposure and position the sport strategically.
“We have to be mindful of that as well,” Kennedy emphasized. “We’ll stay close to them because it has an impact on this date.”
Daytona’s Global Reach: NASCAR’s Secret Weapon
One thing that separates NASCAR from the NFL? Its global expansion efforts.
While the NFL continues to gain international traction, NASCAR is already reaching 190 countries in 26 languages with the Daytona 500 broadcast.
Rather than panicking over Super Bowl weekend, NASCAR is focusing on expanding its audience—both domestically and internationally.
The Verdict: Daytona 500 Won’t Be Pushed Around
The Daytona 500 isn’t just a race—it’s a motorsports institution. And while the NFL’s power is undeniable, NASCAR is sending a clear message:
“We’re not moving just because the Super Bowl says so.”
The schedule battle isn’t over, but one thing is certain—NASCAR isn’t about to let the NFL dictate its biggest event.
