Last spring, Dale Earnhardt Jr. packed his bags and headed to Cancun for a weekend of sunshine, family, and maybe a little racing on the side. But when he tried to watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series race from his vacation spot, things went sideways. “I didn’t have access to the Xfinity race like I wanted. Internationally, it’s just impossible. It’s like you have to go to a bar with the right channel. I didn’t get to see much of the race,” his frustration boiled on his Dale Jr. Download podcast.

That wasn’t just a one-off frustration. It echoed a sentiment shared by countless fans outside the U.S. Watching NASCAR from abroad often feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Expensive subscriptions, limited rights, and a lack of direct digital access left many fans in the dust. However, Dale Jr. didn’t just complain; he pushed for change. On his podcast, he emphasized how disconnected NASCAR had become from its growing global fanbase.

Highlighting the need for broader access and flexible platforms, he said, “Fans around the world want to be part of this, but we make it too hard. We’re just not thinking enough about them.” Those words hung in the air as NASCAR continued to focus its efforts on domestic audiences. But nearly a year later, things are finally changing.

NASCAR joins hands with Recast to cater global audience

As the NASCAR caravan heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the next round of action, the sport just made a move that answers those frustrations. NASCAR has joined hands with Recast, a fintech-driven media company, to reshape how international fans access racing content. It’s a strategic addition to its $7.7 billion media rights era, where NASCAR signed a historic media rights extension last year for seven years. The deal is spread across 4 broadcasters- FOX, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon, where they will split 38 races across their channels each year starting from the current season.

Coming back to NASCAR and Recast, this deal kicks off with NASCAR’s Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, giving fans across the world subscription-free, pay-as-you-go access to live races and highlights via NASCAR.com/watchnow. The model is simple: fans only pay for the content they want, using Recast Pay, a universal digital wallet. No cable package, no contract, no middleman. Speaking about it NASCAR’s Managing Director of Media Strategy Nick Skipper highlighted the importance of a global audience.

He said, “This partnership allows us to meet fans on a flexible basis. By leveraging Recast’s tech, we can expand into underserved markets while learning how fans engage with our content.” Notably, Recast’s technology will also give NASCAR something it hasn’t had—real-time audience data from international fans, which will help guide future engagement and content distribution strategies. With Recast’s affiliate engine, brands and media partners around the globe can now earn by promoting NASCAR content.

Notably, this isn’t NASCAR’s first step beyond U.S. borders. On June 15, 2025, the Cup Series will make history with its first points-paying race in Mexico City at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Xfinity Series will be there, too. It’s a landmark move that acknowledges motorsports’ deep roots in Latin America and the sport’s need to grow beyond its traditional markets.

NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy has been clear about the vision: the future is international. In a chat with Kevin Harvick in 2024, Kennedy explained that NASCAR is looking at Canada, possibly Europe, and even further afield. “The goal is to open new doors for our teams and our fans. We’ve already had new partners reach out since we announced Mexico. That wouldn’t have happened if we were just racing stateside,” he said.

This expansion isn’t sudden. Since 2014, NASCAR has partnered with IMG to distribute broadcasts globally. Yet, despite those efforts, around 95% of NASCAR’s revenue still comes from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The Recast deal aims to tip the scales by unlocking “dark markets” where fans exist but access doesn’t. So now, as Bristol looms on the horizon, NASCAR isn’t just bringing race cars to Thunder Valley—it’s bringing answers to years of global frustration. And speaking of Bristol…

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Mother Nature is to haunt teams in Thunder Valley

After a clean, fun-loving, and throwback racing weekend in Darlington, the NASCAR Caravan reaches Bristol Motor Speedway for the next round of battle. This weekend will have a triple header showdown, especially for Kyle Larson, who will attempt another ‘triple duty.’ However, the weather could shake things up, especially early on. Starting Friday, April 11, the Truck Series could be in for a slippery ride.

Practice kicks off at 3:35 p.m. ET, with qualifying at 4:40 p.m., leading into the Weather Guard Truck Race at 7:30 p.m. But here’s the kicker: there’s a 70% chance of rain on Friday, and humidity levels are expected to hit 83%. With temperatures hovering around 11°C (52°F), the Truck race will likely roll under the lights and possibly on a damp surface if showers delay the schedule.

However, Saturday looks much better. The chance of rain drops to just 15%. The NASCAR Xfinity Series holds practice and qualifying in the morning, followed by the SciAps 300 at 5 p.m. ET. Humidity will sit around 66% during the day, rising to 71% after sunset. Again, temperatures won’t climb past 11°C, so teams will have to manage cold-track conditions. Meanwhile, Sunday’s Cup Series main event, the Food City 500, should dodge the weather completely.

Rain chances sit at a low 9%, and temperatures will rise slightly to 19°C. According to NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass, Truck teams have been asked to be prepared to race on Sunday if rain continues to trouble the Friday evening event. However, there is no official information about the proposed change is available. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a busy and unpredictable weekend.