The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series races have kicked off a new era in broadcasting as the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway marked the start of NBC’s coverage under NASCAR’s recently signed seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights deal. This agreement introduces significant shifts, with new players such as Amazon Prime Video joining alongside traditional broadcasters NBC and Fox, while TNT Sports returns after a hiatus.

These additions have led to a redistribution of race coverage. NBC, which previously covered 20 races in a season, will now broadcast just 14, while Fox’s slate shrinks from 18 to 14 races. Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports will each cover five NASCAR events, mainly between May and July, creating a more fragmented schedule for viewers.

Which Specific NASCAR Races Did NBC Lose in 2025?

Under the new arrangement, NBC’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series coverage starts later than it would have previously, kicking off not in June but after other broadcasters have begun their runs. Last year, NBC’s portion began mid-June with the event at Iowa, but this year, NBC ceded several key events it traditionally aired.

Among the lost events are the race at Pocono Raceway on June 22, the full five-race In-Season Challenge hosted at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Chicago Street Course, Sonoma Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, and the landmark Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The most notable among these are the Chicago Street Race and the Brickyard 400, whose audience numbers dropped noticeably after moving from NBC to TNT Sports this year.

The June races at Pocono and Atlanta had been staples on NBC’s calendar in previous seasons, while Sonoma and Dover races, traditionally part of Fox’s coverage, were shifted later into the year under the new schedule. Sonoma’s race, typically June’s Fox season closer, and Dover’s spring race have both been rescheduled.

In addition, Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway, which were part of NBC’s coverage last year, moved to Fox earlier in the season, taking place in early June this year. Meanwhile, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, previously under Fox’s regular season sporting events from 2022 to 2024, shifted to NBC’s playoff coverage in 2025.

Conversely, Homestead-Miami Speedway transitioned from NBC’s playoff lineup back into Fox’s regular season events for the first time since 2021.

A Summary of NBC’s Race Shifts and Broadcast Distribution for 2025

In total, NBC lost broadcasting rights to the races at Pocono, Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Michigan, while swapping the Homestead race for the Gateway race in the playoffs. Despite NBC’s historic involvement, the network itself will broadcast only four of their 14 races in 2025; the remaining ten races will air on USA Network, NBCUniversal’s primary cable channel for motorsports following NBC Sports Network’s shutdown in 2021.

NBC’s first race broadcast this season will not happen until the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway on August 23. Afterward, NBC’s responsibility resumes only for the final three playoff races, held at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19, Martinsville Speedway on October 26, and Phoenix Raceway on November 2.

Broadcast Team and Coverage Details for NBC’s NASCAR Portion

Regardless of whether a race airs on NBC or USA Network, the broadcast team remains consistent. The lead announcer is Leigh Diffey, who replaced longtime lead Rick Allen last August and has been with NBC since 2013. Former drivers Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte continue as color commentators, a role they have filled since 2015. Diffey joined NBC’s NASCAR coverage after <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/motorsports/indycar/”>IndyCar broadcasting rights moved to Fox starting in 2025, where Will Buxton now covers IndyCar along with James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.

USA Network will continue its live coverage role, including the upcoming Go Bowling at The Glen event from Watkins Glen International scheduled for August 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET, highlighting the network’s continued prominence in the sport’s broadcast ecosystem.

Implications of the Broadcast Shake-Up for NASCAR Fans and Networks

These changes reflect broader shifts in sports media rights, with streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video entering the NASCAR broadcasting landscape and cable channels adjusting coverage to accommodate new partners. The division of races across multiple networks and platforms may complicate viewing for fans, requiring more subscriptions or channel surfing.

For NBC, the reduction in races means a more condensed schedule of events, especially with fewer NASCAR races airing on the main NBC network. Fans accustomed to watching key races like the Brickyard 400 on NBC now need to transition to TNT Sports or other outlets. The ongoing collaboration between NBC and USA Network ensures production consistency but still marks a substantial shift in how and where audiences engage with the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025 and beyond.