NASCAR’s second-tier series will need a new title sponsor starting in 2026. Xfinity, which has sponsored the series since 2014, is expected to end its sponsorship after the 2025 season, according to multiple reports. Since signing a 10-year deal in 2015, Xfinity recently agreed to a one-year extension for the 2025 season, NASCAR announced Tuesday.
Comcast, Xfinity’s parent company, continues to be a major sponsor in NASCAR as the lead sponsor of the top-tier Cup Series. The Cup Series has been without a single title sponsor since Monster Energy’s contract ended in 2019, instead having multiple major sponsors including Busch, Coca-Cola, and Xfinity over the past five years.
The Xfinity Series originated as a spinoff in 1984 from NASCAR’s sportsman division, initially called the Grand National Series. Busch sponsored the series until 2007, followed by National Insurance until 2014.
Starting in 2025, the Xfinity Series will have its own TV contract, shifting broadcasts entirely to The CW network, which has acquired rights to boost its sports programming alongside ACC and Pac-12 events. Previously, the races were split between Fox and NBC alongside the Cup Series schedule.
NASCAR also announced that Xfinity will sponsor a fastest lap program across the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series. Drivers who clock the fastest lap during a race will earn extra points, a system somewhat akin to Formula 1’s previous fastest lap bonus. Unlike F1, NASCAR did not specify that the driver must finish in a certain position to earn these points, which could lead to strategic race manipulations, such as multiple pit stops for fresh tires to secure fastest laps without necessarily competing for positions.
The 2024 Cup Series penultimate race highlighted the impact of race tactics, where an illegal move by Bell on the final lap was ruled to help Chevrolet driver William Byron advance to the championship Final Four.
Fan Take: This change in sponsorship signals a new era for NASCAR’s second-tier series and highlights the sport’s evolving media partnerships. The introduction of fastest lap points could significantly alter race strategies, adding a fresh layer of excitement—and complexity—for fans watching the competitions unfold.
