Fans are really enjoying the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year. Even though the race at Martinsville Speedway was full of drama and controversy, motorsports enthusiasts couldn’t help but stay glued to their screens, enjoying the events as they unfolded at ‘The Paperclip.’ In recent months, the stock car racing series has been through plenty of criticism with regard to coverage. Especially with FOX Sports being accused of prioritizing IndyCar instead. However, no such qualms exist with how The CW handles the broadcast of NASCAR’s second tier.

Has the Xfinity Series reclaimed its long-lost fame if recent numbers are anything to go by? With only seven races into the season, it might be too early to say. However, the viewership count doesn’t lie, leaving fans shocked.

CW is changing the narrative around the NASCAR Xfinity Series

Sammy Smith was having none of it. The JR Motorsports driver was engaged in a heated battle with Taylor Gray towards the end of the US Marine Corps 250. And this time, he was determined not to end up with a runner-up finish for the third time in his Xfinity Series career. In a desperate attempt to secure the big win, Smith drove into race-leader Taylor Gray during the final lap in Turn 3. However, instead of the move helping him secure the grandfather clock trophy, the Smith was forced to settle for 10th place. His move backfired as he was mired in traffic and locked horns with Justin Allgaier before crashing into multiple race cars.

He wasn’t the only one, as cars were strewn across the track when the checkered flag was waved, resulting in a chaotic finish at Martinsville Speedway. The incident brought about plenty of controversy, with Denny Hamlin going as far as saying that it was “absolutely garbage.” Despite it all, broadcaster ‘The CW’ recorded over a million viewers (1.014 million to be exact). It was the first time since 2017 that the NASCAR Xfinity Series has enjoyed so much audience interest for one of the first seven races of the season, a 19% increase from last year.

In many ways, The CW is leaving no stone unturned to make sure fans have the best experience possible when watching the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Recently, the sanctioning body unveiled a multi-million dollar production facility called ‘Studio 43’, which was used by the broadcaster to provide state-of-the-art coverage for the Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The CW has also implemented a remote broadcast booth for the live telecast, giving fans more camera angles, data, and insights to improve the fans’ experience.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series has always been considered a ‘support series’ for the Cup, serving as a feeder series for upcoming talent. However, The CW wants to change this narrative, with Rich Browd, SVP of brand creative at The CW saying, “We wanted to treat Saturday’s race like it was as good as Sunday. Historically, the Xfinity Series felt like an afterthought.”

The proof is in the results, as a staggering 1.8 million viewers tuned in for the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, the most-viewed Xfinity Series opening race since 2020. Taking these factors into account, it should come as no surprise that fans are warming up to ‘The CW’, despite feeling embarrassed by how the race at Martinsville Speedway played out.

And their intent and commitment towards NASCAR was evident right from get go. Remember, last year NBC bailed out on Xfinity Series, citing that they wouldn’t be able to broadcast the playoffs portion of the season. Although CW was under no obligation to start early, they treated it as an opportunity, and this gesture seems to have built a strong brand presence among NASCAR loyalists.

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Fans weigh in after record viewers witness Martinsville chaos

As expected, it didn’t take long for NASCAR fans to chime in, after ‘The CW’ network highlighted some impressive viewership numbers after the US Marine Corps 250. Even though the sanctioning body has come under plenty of criticism lately, a fan didn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due to the sports’ hierarchy, going on to write, “Phelps and O’Donnell don’t lose.” Steve Phelps, who has now been bumped into the role of Commissioner, played a crucial role in getting new TV partners for NASCAR.

Another motorsports enthusiast issued a snide remark, highlighting that viewership numbers would inevitably increase if networks would do their job well. The fan wrote, “Crazy, NASCAR’s support series, with no names, gets good support for being on a station over the air.” It is important to note that Xfinity is going to pull out from the title sponsorship after the end of 2025. So, the tier 2 NASCAR division needs to put out the best number and products that could lure in new investments and growth.

This user couldn’t help but feel embarrassed that so many fans witnessed how poorly the race at Martinsville Speedway ended, with cars being strewn across the racetrack when the checkered flag was waved. The NASCAR fan wrote, “Oof 1 million people watched that finish.” Echoing that sentiment, another stock car racing series enthusiast couldn’t help but highlight. “That’s a lot of people to embarrass yourself in front of”, feeling less than proud at the US Marine Corps 250’s chaotic finish.

FOX Sports has come under plenty of scrutiny this year. The broadcasting company is airing the IndyCar Series for the first time in its history, and many fans feel that NASCAR has fallen down the pecking order when it comes to priority. The media corporation has been criticized for its poor quality this year, prompting one X user to give credit where it’s due. Recognizing The CW’s efforts, a fan went on to say, “Shows their broadcast is so much better than Fox”, which may indicate the viewership numbers.

Do you think the NASCAR Xfinity Series has reclaimed its lost fame, despite the controversial end at Martinsville Speedway? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!