• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 31, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Daytona 500 Most-Watched Over the Weekend, Despite Rain Delays

The Daytona 500 was able to garner a relatively strong TV audience Sunday despite a severe weather delay that led to competition from the NBA All-Star Game.

Daytona Beach News-Journal

The Daytona 500’s TV ratings suffered once again from bad weather for the first race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, but the Great American Race still produced the most-watched sports event of the crowded Presidents’ Day weekend. 

Fox drew an average of 6.76 million viewers for Sunday’s race, which was delayed several hours by rainstorms in Florida. William Byron won his second consecutive Daytona 500 after taking the lead following a final-lap wreck.

Last year’s race, which was postponed to Monday, averaged 5.96 million viewers on Fox. In 2023, when the Daytona 500 ran as scheduled on a Sunday, Fox’s audience was 8.17 million viewers. Sunday’s race peaked at 7.95 million viewers shortly after it began, highlighting the ratings potential had there not been delays.

The delays meant the Daytona 500’s conclusion went head-to-head with the NBA All-Star Game, which averaged 4.7 million viewers Sunday night across TNT Sports platforms. Saturday night’s U.S.-Canada game in the NHL’s heralded 4 Nations Face-Off averaged 4.4 million viewers on ABC.

This is the first season of new seven-year, $7.7 billion media-rights deals for NASCAR with Fox, NBC Sports, Amazon, and TNT Sports.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

With rain in the forecast, NASCAR had moved the Daytona 500 start time from 2:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. The race began shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday but was halted 11 laps in. President Donald Trump was in attendance for the race’s start but left before its conclusion.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the race restarted, only to suffer another brief delay. Finally, around 6:20, the Daytona 500 resumed and ran without any further stoppage. Byron took the checkered flag at roughly 9:37 p.m.

Weather has been a big issue for the Daytona 500 in recent years. The 2021 edition finished after midnight following delays, and the 2020 race was also postponed to Monday.

A Positive Trend

A bright spot for NASCAR over the weekend was strong ratings for the second-tier Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona. The CW, which is also in its first full season airing NASCAR races, averaged 1.8 million viewers for Saturday’s race, marking the most-watched Xfinity Series broadcast since the Talladega race in April 2022.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBC Sports Parent Says No Rush to Make WBD Deal: ‘Bar Is..

The company says it doesn’t need to merge with another media entity.

SEC-Led College Football TV Ratings Are Still Up 4% Through Week 9

The average game audience this season is 1.95 million viewers.

NBA Season Opens With Best Ratings in 8 Years Despite Off-Court Scandals

It’s the first year of the NBA’s 11-year, $77 billion media deal.
Oct 25, 2025; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (8) before NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 Practice and Qualifying at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR Star Kyle Busch Sues Pacific Life Over $8.5M Insurance Scam

Busch says he lost $8.58 million from Pacific Life.

Featured Today

Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Card Market Is Surging—With No Signs of Slowing

Cards have spiked hundreds of thousands of dollars from their initial value.
September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium
October 26, 2025

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center
October 23, 2025

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.