NASCAR wrapped up its second-ever Cup Series weekend at Iowa Speedway with solid, but mixed, television numbers. While the Xfinity Series delivered its strongest Iowa audience since 2018, Cup viewership dipped compared to last year’s inaugural event. Both races still brought notable attention to the sport, with The CW and USA Network drawing significant audiences during a busy sports weekend. Here’s how the numbers stacked up as NASCAR left Iowa and prepared to head next to Watkins Glen International.
Key Highlights
The CW drew 1.008 million viewers for the Hy-Vee Perks 250 Xfinity race at Iowa, the highest since June 2018.
Saturday’s Xfinity race viewership was up 23% compared to last year’s 22nd season race (Daytona) and 16% over Iowa 2024.
USA Network’s Cup race broadcast earned 2.174 million viewers, down from 2.693 million for last year’s inaugural Iowa event.
Sunday’s Cup race remained the most-watched sports broadcast of the weekend despite the year-over-year decline.
Xfinity viewership peaked during Sam Mayer’s win, delivering Haas Factory Team its first victory of the 2025 season.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Numbers Hit Six-Year High
The NASCAR Xfinity Series had a strong showing in Iowa, with The CW’s coverage of the Hy-Vee Perks 250 drawing 1.008 million viewers. That marked the most-watched Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway since June 2018, giving the series a boost in its 2025 television footprint. Compared to last year’s 22nd race of the season at Daytona, viewership increased by 23%.
When compared to the Iowa Xfinity race from 2024, numbers were up 16%. Fans tuned in heavily for the closing laps, where Sam Mayer took the checkered flag, giving Haas Factory Team its first win of the season. The late-race surge in audience underlined the excitement of the finish, further reinforcing the network’s momentum in Xfinity broadcasts this season.
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) August 5, 2025
NASCAR Cup Series Viewership Sees Decline but Leads Weekend Sports
On Sunday, USA Network drew 2.174 million viewers for NASCAR’s second Cup Series event at Iowa Speedway. While that figure was enough to make the race the most-watched sporting event of the weekend, it marked a drop from last year’s inaugural Cup race in mid-June, which had 2.693 million viewers. The 2024 race benefited from novelty as the first Cup event at Iowa, while this year’s edition settled into a more typical midseason spot on the calendar. Compared to last year’s comparable weekend, which was impacted by the Olympics break, this race still held its own despite slightly lower overall totals.
.@USANetwork got 2.174 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR race at Iowa, down from 2.693 million for the inaugural Cup event there last year in mid June, but still good enough to be the most-watched sport event of the weekend.
➡️ Comparable weekend last year was @Olympics break. pic.twitter.com/UkoHRJ13sQ
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 5, 2025
Next Up: Watkins Glen International
With Iowa in the rearview mirror, the NASCAR schedule heads to Watkins Glen International. The weekend opens Friday morning with ARCA Menards Series practice and qualifying before the General Tire 100 at 2 p.m. ET. The Truck Series will have a full 36-truck field for the Mission 176 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, marking the first time since Daytona the series has a complete entry list. Saturday brings Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, followed by the Mission 200 at 3 p.m. ET on The CW.
Several Cup regulars, including Shane van Gisbergen, Michael McDowell, and Riley Herbst, will compete in Xfinity cars. Cup Series teams will practice at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, with qualifying set for 1:10 p.m. before Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen. The 90-lap road course race takes the green flag at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network.
News in Brief: NASCAR Iowa Weekend 2025 TV Ratings
NASCAR’s Iowa weekend saw The CW deliver 1.008 million viewers for Saturday’s Xfinity race, the track’s highest since 2018, with a 23% gain over Daytona’s 2024 equivalent event. Sunday’s Cup race drew 2.174 million viewers on USA Network, down from 2.693 million a year ago, yet it remained the weekend’s top sporting broadcast. Sam Mayer’s Xfinity win for Haas Factory Team added to the weekend’s storylines. NASCAR now shifts to Watkins Glen for ARCA, Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series action, with Sunday’s 90-lap Cup race at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network. Watch live this weekend as NASCAR hits Watkins Glen with packed fields and high-stakes action.
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