Story by
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Has a Solution for Declining NASCAR Viewership
- Story by
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Has a Solution for Declining NASCAR Viewership
NASCAR is in a tough spot right now viewership-wise. It's down and fans and insiders are wondering how to get the excitement back. Former Xfinity Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. has an idea and it's something fans might actually get excited about.
On the latest episode of his Dale Jr. Download podcast , Earnhardt Jr. talked about how all over the place the current broadcasting setup is. Practices and qualifying sessions are on different networks making it hard for fans to follow the whole picture. He believes a central show could pull everything together and keep fans engaged all week.
Advertisement
"We're missing the buildup. Weekly shows. Get home from work, turn on the TV and watch 30 minutes to an hour of talk, conversation around the sport. We need like that pillar show, like RPM 2Night, you know? Yeah, we need that one show that's like the all-catch-all," he said.
"We also need practice and qualifying to be storylines … We need a little more. It gives you opportunity to understand what to expect on race day and it gives you an opportunity to talk and tell stories and stuff about what you could see."
Something like RPM 2Night, the late-90s ESPN show that covered multiple racing series, is an example of the kind of program NASCAR needs today.
This could indeed give fans a reason to tune in every week, follow the updates and stay invested in the drivers and teams beyond just the main race.
Advertisement
Also Read:: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Fires Back at Joey Logano's Defense of NASCAR Playoffs
Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls for a Pillar Show to rebuild NASCAR's narrative
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
NASCAR needs this. The Cup Series races in 2025 are averaging 2.52 million viewers per race — down 13% from 2024. Playoff races are down 29% year-over-year. Some races, like the New Hampshire playoff event, had 1.29 million viewers.
A lot of factors could cause this: fragmented broadcasts, competing sports and entertainment, less storytelling connecting races, an aging fan base and some concerns about the format and on-track product itself.
Advertisement
A pillar show could fix at least one of those problems. By previewing races, breaking down drivers and teams and mixing in practice and qualifying it would give us a reason to care all week. It would make the sport feel more connected, more bite-sized and more interesting for die-hard fans but also the newbies.
Of course execution is everything. The show would have to be good, accessible and fit within the NASCAR video program's complicated contracts and schedule without adding more confusion. But if it can get back on track it could make a big difference in our experience of the sport.
Even though Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s proposal won't fix everything in NASCAR, it's at least a real idea that could create interest, provide storylines, and entice people to watch week after week. Sometimes restoring the humanity behind it and the anticipation is just as good as racing.
Also Read:: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Defends Bubba Wallace After Hamlin Clash at Kansas
Advertisement
Related Headlines
