NASCAR Hits Offseason With International Goals Next

In a groundbreaking move, NASCAR is considering holding a points-paying Cup Series race outside the United States for the first time. This comes on the heels of Ryan Blaney’s triumph in the 2023 Cup Series championship, marking his first title and Team Penske’s second consecutive win. As the three-month offseason begins, NASCAR faces various off-track issues.

Although the 2024 schedule is already finalized, there is a growing sentiment that the top racing circuit will expand internationally in 2025. During the recent event at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR’s chief operating officer, Steve O’Donnell, confirmed the interest in adding a race in Montreal in 2024 to tap into the Canadian market.

Additionally, with Formula 1’s successful expansion in the United States across 20 countries this season, NASCAR aims to take its top product to a new continent. When asked about the possibility, O’Donnell enthusiastically responded, “Absolutely. We’re exploring a number of different options,” during a conversation with Front Office Sports.

Although NASCAR already has international series in Canada, Mexico, and Europe, the organization believes that any of its events could thrive internationally. O’Donnell emphasized the desire to bring the NASCAR experience beyond North America and into new territories.

Media Deals on the Horizon

Once NASCAR returns to the track in February, it may have finalized its next set of media rights deals. While the CW has secured rights to the Xfinity Series, the Cup and truck series are still up for grabs.

The existing contracts with Fox Sports and NBC Sports are set to expire after the 2024 season, but it is widely expected that both partners will renew their involvement in some capacity. Furthermore, NASCAR President Steve Phelps confirmed that a streaming partner will likely be included in the future media rights deals, which have attracted more interest than anticipated.