NBC Sports is launching its segment of the 2025 NASCAR season at a packed Iowa Speedway, unveiling a new theme that highlights NASCAR drivers toughness and courage 2025, as well as their unique personalities. As the final media partner to join the season rotation following Fox Sports, NBC steps in with an emphasis on the intense physical and mental demands facing drivers on the track.
NBC Universal Kicks Off 2025 Season With Fresh Perspective
The Iowa Corn 350, airing on USA Network this weekend, marks the first premier NASCAR series race of 2025 to be broadcast on an NBCUniversal channel. Despite this, NBC Sports’ NASCAR production team has already been involved in five previous Cup Series broadcasts this summer, thanks to Amazon’s decision to have NBC produce the live coverage of Prime Video’s races. This collaboration is part of NASCAR’s expanded partnership with new broadcast entities, including The CW—which covers the secondary series—and Warner Bros. Discovery properties like TNT, TruTV, and Max. NASCAR, now partnering with five media rights holders, has reached $1.1 billion in annual licensing fees.
Introducing a Dramatic New Show Open
Starting at Iowa, NBC debuts a dynamic new opening sequence for its NASCAR coverage, featuring Deep Purple’s classic track “Space Truckin’.” The two-minute introduction is packed with dramatic moments from past and recent races—spectacular flips, crashes, and high-pressure pit stops—as well as vivid scenes from a creative shoot organized for this season. In these new shots, drivers are depicted relaxing at a bar over drinks, playing pool or cards, enjoying a jukebox, and working on street cars outdoors, offering fans a rare look at their off-track camaraderie.
The open honors both historical and contemporary highlights. Clips span decades, including drivers mashing gearboxes, pit crews performing swift tire changes, and legendary figure Richard Petty signing autographs. The creative shoot brings together stars like Petty, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney, each representing the grit and character unique to the sport.
Theme Inspired by Legendary Toughness and Grit
According to NBC Sports VP of NASCAR, Jeff Behnke, the inspiration for this season’s theme was sparked during a discussion with analyst Jeff Burton. Burton, who returns to the analyst booth alongside Steve Letarte and play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey, emphasized the physical and mental demands faced by the drivers throughout the grueling season. Behnke explained:
“Burton brought up the fact how tough these drivers are and you always hear the term, ‘Oh they’re going 200 miles an hour.’ But there’s so many tracks — there’s short tracks that we do on our schedule, Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville and even the road courses — and these drivers are tough, nitty gritty and they are in incredible physical shape, and we’re going to celebrate that. You’ll see that in our opening and our video theme that is going to be weaved throughout the races. … As Burton was saying to me, the way that their bodies are impacted during the course of a race — not just during crashes — but during the course of a race and the heat they overcome and the strength it takes to turn those wheels, we are going to celebrate that and showcase that, and that is our undercurrent. The primary thing that we are really ready for is the playoffs and the run to the championship.”
—Jeff Behnke, NBC Sports VP of NASCAR
This year, fans will see not only dramatic racing action but also behind-the-scenes moments that underline what it takes to compete at the highest levels, especially at challenging venues like Bristol, Richmond, and Martinsville.
Highlighting Recent Triumphs and Ongoing Updates
This weekend’s race at Iowa is NBC Sports’ 200th NASCAR broadcast since resuming coverage in 2015. The production team is marking this milestone with timely inclusions—such as inserting scenes of Bubba Wallace’s emotional victory at the Brickyard 400, his first win after one hundred starts, showcasing Wallace’s memorable celebration. According to Behnke, the opening reel will be continually refreshed throughout the season, capturing and celebrating the latest highlights and pivotal moments from the Cup Series.
With this bold and energetic new direction, NBC’s coverage aims to immerse viewers in the intense physicality and spirit of NASCAR drivers, while keeping the broadcast fresh and relevant as the race for the playoffs and the championship intensifies. NASCAR fans can expect the network to spotlight both the enduring toughness and the vibrant personalities that make the sport unique well into the 2025 season.
