The NASCAR Xfinity Series announces a brand new multi-year broadcasting deal as the drivers prepare for Michigan
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will have an exclusive home on The CW Network starting in 2025. Currently, the broadcast schedule mirrors the Cup Series and is split between Fox and NBC.
The new television deal will feature all practice and qualifying sessions along with all 33 races. Not only is the exclusivity of the deal surprising but the new partner came as a shock as well.
The CW Network is a brand new network for NASCAR and its fans. Bringing everything the NASCAR Xfinity Series has to offer to a broadcast television channel could be great for the growth of the sport.
💥@TheCW has surprisingly picked up media rights to @NASCAR's Xfinity Series, with a seven-year deal that will start in 2025 and last through 2031, @SBJ understands.
🔲 The CW will pay around $115 million per year for the rights, per @Ourand_SBJ.
📰: https://t.co/m5ppVkPLLW pic.twitter.com/XgMy525TVl
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) July 28, 2023
The Track
The NASCAR Xfinity Series remains in the mid-west this week with trip to Michigan International Speedway. The two-mile D-shaped oval is extremely fast and known for lots of side-by-side racing.
The track surface is smooth and has a lot of grip which allows Xfinity Series drivers to stay close to flat out in qualifying. According to racing reference, last year’s average speed that won pole position was 190.37 MPH.
During the race, drivers can use multiple lines through the wide corners as their tires start to wear. Michigan is another track where restarts are chaotic and cars go four and sometimes five wide across.
NASCAR will once again be keeping a close eye on how drivers approach these restarts.
Prediction
Last week Sam Mayer broke through at Road America for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win in a wild finish, and his JR Motorsports team has a history of running well at Michigan.
Noah Gragson swept both stages driving for JR Motorsports in this race last year before finishing third. Last year’s winner Ty Gibbs is also on the entry list this weekend and will be a heavy favorite to return to victory lane.
My pick is staying in the JR Motorsports organization with Brandon Jones. Jones is 61 points below the playoff cutline and would need a win to lock into the playoffs.
He excels at tracks like Michigan and combined with his team’s past success I’m taking Brandon Jones to get a playoff-clinching win.
How To Watch – Cabo Wabo 250 (All times ET)
- Practice/Qualifying: Friday, August 4, 3:30 p.m. on USA
- Cabo Wabo 250: Saturday, August 5, 3:30 p.m. on NBC
