The NASCAR Xfinity Series races on The CW Network continued the upward TV ratings after Daytona.
Held on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway, the NXS race garnered 1.092 million viewers, per Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. It was the fifth consecutive race viewership has topped the milestone million mark and was an increase of 33% from last year’s race on the USA network.
As previously reported, this is the first full season CW has broadcast the entire NXS season, after taking over from NBC/USA last year with eight races remaining. The agreement is a seven-year deal between NASCAR and the CW for a reportedly $115 million, with all NXS races being shown exclusively on the network.
So far, it looks the investment is paying off for the series, CW and its coveted advertisers.
Plenty of Excitement and Storylines
Viewers had no lack of excitement, drama and triumph while watching NASCAR’s second-tier series at Daytona. Restrictor-plate racing at the 2.5-mile trioval produces two, three and four-wide racing under the lights and keeps fans attention.
Leading up to the race, the big question was how long points leader Connor Zilisch was going to stay in the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet after his Watkins Glen International post-race fall in Victory Lane.
Once cleared to race by his doctors and NASCAR, it seemed that debate was lasting right up until the green flag. Already locked into the NXS Playoffs via six wins heading to Daytona, his JRM team wanted to make sure Zilisch didn’t risk further injury by getting caught up in a multi-car wreck.
On standby was Parker Kligerman, former full-time driver and now an analyst for CW, to get out when Zilisch felt it was time. That took place on Lap 14 as Kligerman jumped in, then drove to the win.
“I hate the circumstances for Connor and I feel honored to have gotten the call,” he said in Victory Lane. “Thank you to Justin Allgaier, he was a real teammate – we go way back. He and Sammy Smith gave me some big pushes at the end. It’s a great testament to this team.
“For me, this is such a me thing that this (win) will not be on Racing Reference (website) at all. I’m still going to count it as a win; I’m going to take the checkered flag. (laughs)”
Actually…
The website dedicated to stats and facts for drivers, owners and tracks of Racing Reference Info shared on the following Monday they did include a special line item Race Notes about the win, “Connor Zilisch with relief from Parker Kligerman.”
Kligerman replied via his X account, “Hahaha, thank you.”
Could Ratings Rise Continue with Two Left until NXS Playoffs
This weekend, the series heads to Portland International Raceway in Oregan to compete on the 1.97-mile road course for 75 laps. Race time is 7:30 p.m. ET on a Saturday night. While it is the second-to-last race before the Playoff deciding event in St. Louis at World Wide Technology Raceway, it will probably be a tougher sell enticing fans to tune in.
The current standings show eight of the 12 allowed drivers locked in. Harrison Burton sits 67 points above the cutline in 12th, with his cousin Jed Burton in 13th. Like the Cup and Truck Series, if a non-winning driver earns a trip to Victory Lane, they also punch their ticket to the Playoffs.
That puts WWTR in a great position to draw in viewers to see who’s in, and who’s out.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Ratings Up Again After Daytona