NASCAR’s 2025 media rights era rolled into Sonoma Raceway over the weekend, and the numbers are in. Under the new broadcast deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, the Cup and Xfinity Series races aired on TNT and truTV, netting surprising viewership results and stirring up a fresh round of fan reactions.
With the $7.7 billion media rights deal now in its first year, expectations were mixed heading into a road course weekend. However, the actual numbers told a different story, offering some optimism while also underscoring long-standing frustrations.
Key Highlights
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 averaged 2.189 million viewers on TNT/truTV with a 1.09 rating
NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma drew 972,000 viewers—the most-watched Xfinity race from Sonoma ever
Xfinity viewership increased by +27% compared to the 2024 Sonoma race on FS1
Viewership for the Xfinity race peaked at 1.09 million between 6:45–7:00 p.m. ET
Fans praised the action but criticized limited streaming options and local blackouts
TNT Ratings: Better Than Expected
The Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 pulled in 2.189 million viewers with a 1.09 rating on TNT and truTV, surprising many in the industry. While not record-breaking, the figure was seen as a strong showing for a road course broadcast on cable, especially after July 4th weekend numbers from Chicago had dipped slightly.
Fan reactions were cautiously optimistic:
“That’s better than expected I guess.”
“Honestly that’s a lot better than I expected. Still not amazing but still not bad.”
“Way better than Chicago got on TNT. High fives all around.” – NASCAR fan reactions
.@TNTdrama + @TruTV got a 1.09 rating and 2.189 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.
➡️ No direct comparison as last year's race there took place a month earlier and aired on broadcast TV on Fox, but that event got 2.896 million. pic.twitter.com/Y6RSvFCnzI
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) July 15, 2025
With Shane van Gisbergen dominating from the pole and breaking Jeff Gordon’s all-time Sonoma laps-led record, interest in the race was high. Some fans also pointed to weather and track action as contributing factors to the higher-than-expected viewership.
NASCAR Xfinity Sets a New High at Sonoma
Saturday’s Xfinity Series race also gave NASCAR something to celebrate. The broadcast pulled in 972,000 viewers—up 27% over the 2024 edition aired on FS1—and marked the most-watched Xfinity race from Sonoma ever. At its peak, the race reached 1.09 million viewers in the final 15 minutes of the event.
But fans weren’t entirely satisfied:
“Everything is great except for the scoreboard placement.”
“Probably would’ve hit over 1M if you streamed the races on the website.”
“Would be great if it, ya know…was actually on in Detroit. They ran Family Feud reruns instead.” – NASCAR fan reactions
While the action on track delivered—featuring a thrilling Xfinity Showdown—the inaccessibility of the broadcast in certain local markets and the lack of streaming options under the TNT package continued to spark discontent.
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) July 15, 2025
Fan Frustration Remains: Access Still a Problem
Even with rising numbers, access issues remain a recurring complaint in the post-Fox/NBC era. Many fans cited trouble finding the race on local providers or encountering unrelated programming in scheduled time slots.
The lack of digital simulcasts was another sticking point:
“I remember last year when every race was on TV live. Those were the times.” – A NASCAR fan
Viewers in key markets like Detroit expressed frustration that the advertised race never aired locally—despite the time slot being reserved.
What This Means for NASCAR and TNT
The Sonoma weekend showed that the TNT/TruTV model can deliver competitive numbers—especially when on-track storylines stay compelling. Still, the fan base’s tolerance for availability and platform issues remains low. As the $7.7 billion media rights deal unfolds, NASCAR and Warner Bros. Discovery will need to find ways to reduce friction and improve consistency across markets.
SVG’s breakout road course performance helped the ratings—but maintaining viewership will depend on more than lap leads and photo finishes. Addressing the accessibility gap could be just as important as the racing itself.
News in Brief: NASCAR Fans React to Sonoma TNT 2025 Viewership
NASCAR’s 2025 Sonoma weekend delivered stronger-than-expected TV ratings under the new TNT broadcast deal. The NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 averaged 2.189 million viewers with a 1.09 rating on TNT and truTV, while the Xfinity Series race drew 972,000 viewers—up 27% from last year and the most-watched Xfinity race from Sonoma ever. While fans praised the action on track, many voiced concerns over limited accessibility in certain regions and lack of streaming options. As the $7.7 billion media deal continues, TNT faces both optimism and pressure to improve fan experience moving forward.
ALSO READ: Sonoma Raceway Set to Repeat 2024’s Conditions for 2025 Weekend
