Leagues

NASCAR’s New Media Deals Launch As Michael Jordan’s Lawsuit Looms

NASCAR returns at the Daytona 500. And while the sport has lucrative, new media deals, it’s still dealing with a lawsuit from its most famous team owner.

By David Rumsey

Feb 13, 2025 | 03:47 pm

Matt Stamey-Imagn Images

The 2025 NASCAR season begins Sunday at the Daytona 500 with a big change, and one major outstanding issue, off the track.

On a positive note, NASCAR is entering the first season of new seven-year, $7.7 billion media-rights deals. On the flip side, the season begins with an unsettled antitrust lawsuit from two teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan.

Also in 2025, NASCAR will race in a new country and launch an in-season tournament as the sport looks to continue its push into the mainstream.

Watch List

Fox will air Sunday’s Daytona 500 as it traditionally does, but the rest of the NASCAR schedule will look a little different on TV this year:

Fox or FS1 will carry the season’s first 14 races.
Amazon Prime Video makes its Cup Series debut on Memorial Day weekend at the Coca-Cola 600—NASCAR’s longest race. The streamer gets five races.
TNT Sports makes its debut around the Atlanta race on June 28, beginning its five-race stretch through July.
NBC Sports will air the final 14 races, including the playoffs.

Meanwhile, The CW has taken over rights to the second-tier Xfinity Series, which typically races on Saturdays, and was previously split between Fox Sports and NBC Sports.

Off-Track Drama

As the NASCAR world descends upon Daytona International Speedway, two teams—Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports—are beginning the season as uncharted members as their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR plays out in court.

Last year, the teams were the only two not to sign NASCAR’s new charter agreement, instead suing the sanctioning body, arguing for a larger share of annual revenue distribution. 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick was one of four drivers to make it to the NASCAR Cup Series championship race last season, which was ultimately won by Joey Logano.

The New NASCAR

This summer, NASCAR will hold a Cup Series race outside of the U.S. for the first time in its modern history. Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will host the race June 15.

On June 28 in Atlanta, NASCAR’s debut 32-driver in-season tournament will begin. Over five races, qualified drivers will not only be racing for that event’s trophy but will also be paired head-to-head with another driver, based on seeding determined from finishes in the prior three races.

The in-season tournament winner will take home a $1 million prize.