• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 30, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

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

Michael Jordan

Texts From Michael Jordan, NASCAR Bosses Aired Out in Court: ‘I Have..

Jordan said he plans on “going down with fire” against NASCAR.

Fox, YouTube TV Reach Deal, Avoiding CFB Blackout

Saturday’s Texas-Ohio State college football game will be fully distributed

The Next Chapter in the Network Battle for College Football Dominance

Fox and ESPN will jockey for viewers and attention at Texas–Ohio State.
Tom Brady

NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions

Brady will be able to attend production meetings–remotely–this season.

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.

NFL Preseason Sees 17% Jump in TV Ratings, Best Since 2018

Average audiences for the exhibition games increase sharply from last year.
August 27, 2025

FCC Chair Joins Fox–YouTube TV Fight With Big Game on the Line

The Trump appointee is now involved in another media carriage fight.
ESPN
August 27, 2025

Disney Sues Sling TV Over $5 Day Passes Granting ESPN Access

Newly introduced short-term subscriptions spark a legal challenge.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
Aug 24, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tommy Fleetwood holds the FedExCup Trophy on the 18th green after winning the TOUR Championship golf tournament.
August 26, 2025

PGA Tour TV Ratings: Fleetwood’s Breakthrough Caps Playoff Surge

Sunday’s final round drew nearly 4.5 million viewers on NBC.
August 26, 2025

NFL Sunday Ticket Debuts Monthly Plan—but at a Steep Cost

Previously, fans had to purchase the service for the entire season.
August 21, 2025

Fox Enters Streaming Wars With Leaner, Sports-Heavy Approach

A different strategy marks the arrival of the network’s streaming service.
HAPPY GILMORE 2. (L to R) Quin Stiller as Will Zalatoris Caddie, Will Zalatoris as Himself, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as Oscar Mejias and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in Happy Gilmore2.
August 21, 2025

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched U.S. Movie Debut

The Adam Sandler, golf-themed movie sets more streaming records.