Everything we might have thought about the NASCAR fan base and its age demographics may be wrong. For the longest time, fans and insiders have believed that the stock car racing competitions mainly appeal to an older audience that has watched the sport for several years. Younger fans constituted a small fraction of the total number of fans. However, a recent survey suggests that the sport’s popularity has seen an unprecedented increase among Gen-Z, and iRacing could very well be the reason behind this.

Back in 2020, when the Covid pandemic was at its peak, it was found that NASCAR was one of the fastest-rising brands among young people. It was due to iRacing that NASCAR became relevant all over the country. They were also one of the first major sports that came back after the lockdowns. So for them to have a spike in the fanbase at the time made perfect sense.

NASCAR saw an unprecedented rise in popularity among young people

Well, this current survey has taken a lot of people by surprise. It was conducted by Morning Consult, a global decision intelligence company that conducted the same survey in 2020, showing NASCAR’s popularity rise among young fans. As per the report, the company surveyed around 1,000 Gen-Zers aged 13-26 to figure out what sports they were interested in.

It was no secret to see the NFL and the NBA right at the top with College Football and the MLB right behind. However, in 7th place was NASCAR. 36% of the people in the survey claimed to be avid or casual followers of the sport. It beat out sports like the UFC, NHL, and even Formula One.

This is incredible news for NASCAR at the start of the new year and they perhaps have iRacing to thank for the growth in young fans. Video games have become a huge part of younger people’s lives and the pandemic boosted that to a whole different level. iRacing cashed in on that market and one of the results of that could be the reported heightened interest in NASCAR among youngsters.

Another reason why NASCAR could have seen such a jump in younger fans in 2023 could be Rick Hendrick’s ambition. More specifically, when Hendrick Motorsports made the bold choice to compete with the best Europe had to offer in Le Mans.

Read More – Chaos in NASCAR: Brian Vickers’ Forgotten Wreckfest Era

Did Rick Hendrick play a part in making the sport popular?

Trending

NASCAR Lawsuit: France Family Blocked Michael Jordan’s Acquisition of Tony Stewart’s Ruins After SHR Deterioration

After Painful NASCAR Exit, Tony Stewart Shutting Down Prized Venture In Emotional Decision Shocks Fans

Ricky Rudd Boldly Predicts Shane van Gisbergen to Lose His NASCAR Crown With Cup Series Promotion

Joe Gibbs’ Star Ran Out of Talent, Claims Bubba Wallace Insider After Successive Kansas Fumbles

“This Is Such a Sticky Thing” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rescues NASCAR With Kevin Harvick’s Former Ally Breathing Down Their Necks

Garage 56 was a project undertaken by Hendrick Motorsports to get an American car running in the 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. The other collaborators in this project were NASCAR, Chevrolet, IMSA, and Goodyear. Despite finishing in 39th place out of 62, the team achieved its goal of finishing the race and managed to match the times of some European heavyweights like Ferrari and Porsche.

European motorsports has always been looked at from a global perspective to be superior to American motorsports. So when Rick Hendrick brought a loud all-American Chevy Camaro to France and was competitively on pace with the so-called motorsports royalty, motorsports fans back home across all age groups cheered. It may very well have played a role in grabbing younger fans’ attention to stock car racing.

Regardless of how it might have happened, this jump in popularity among younger fans is certainly good news for NASCAR. It will be interesting to see how the organizers capitalize on the situation and engage these younger audiences.

Watch This Story:  “You’re Drinking One Tonight”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals The Time His Father Forced Him To Drink Something He Disliked In Front Of A $115 Billion Sponsor