The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway drew 1.29 million viewers on USA Network, marking a notable decline from previous seasons. Fans tuned in to watch Team Penske dominate the race, with Ryan Blaney capturing the win and Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry putting up a strong fight. While the racing action impressed on track, the TV ratings highlighted ongoing challenges in capturing a broader audience amid competing sports programming.
Key Highlights
- 2025 New Hampshire playoff race drew 1.29 million viewers on USA Network.
- Viewership down 28% from 2024 Round of 12 opener at Kansas Speedway.
- Team Penske dominated with Blaney, Berry, and Joey Logano finishing inside the top five.
- Ryan Blaney held off Josh Berry in a tense battle for the win.
- Next Cup Series race is scheduled at Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Larson excelled earlier in the year.
Team Penske Dominance at New Hampshire
From the opening laps, Team Penske showed superior speed and control at New Hampshire. Their performance in practice and qualifying translated directly to race day success, with three of its four cars finishing in the top five. Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry, in alliance with Penske, added to the team’s strong showing by challenging for the win late in the race.
Ryan Blaney ultimately emerged victorious after a tense final stretch.
“That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove.”
“I was trying to kind of bind my stuff and kind of pull Josh a little bit and he really started coming. I started to get super free; it was all I could do to hold him off and trying new lanes. So, it was good racing and clean racing, appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have. What a cool day, what a cool weekend. Super fast car all weekend, so can’t believe the 12 boys, they’re unbelievable. Really strong throughout the playoffs and it’s great to get a win the first race of this round.” – Ryan Blaney
TV Ratings and Challenges
While the on-track action thrilled fans, the television numbers reflected broader challenges for NASCAR. The 1.29 million viewers on USA Network were down from 1.79 million at last year’s Round of 12 opener at Kansas and 1.88 million for the 2024 New Hampshire race. Competition from Sunday’s 1 p.m. NFL slate likely contributed to the decline, underscoring the difficulties of capturing a broad national audience during a crowded sports weekend.
.@USANetwork got a 0.70 rating and 1.29 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race @NHMS, down from a 1.0 rating and 1.88 million viewers for last year's race at the same track and from a 0.96 rating and 1.79 million for last year's fourth playoff race at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/amruIzIg0Z
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 24, 2025
Despite the dip in ratings, NASCAR’s playoff structure continues to deliver high-stakes competition. Drivers like Blaney, Berry, and Logano showed that speed, strategy, and teamwork remain critical factors in the championship chase.
Looking Ahead to Kansas
The next stop for the Cup Series playoffs is Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Larson impressed in the spring race. Larson led 221 of 267 laps en route to victory, demonstrating the potential for another dominant performance. As teams prepare for the challenging 1.5-mile oval, the competition will intensify, and fans will be eager to see how Penske and other top teams respond following the New Hampshire results.
With the playoffs in full swing, each race carries significant weight for championship points and momentum. The Kansas event will offer another chance for drivers to solidify their standings while striving for consistency in the postseason.
News in Brief: 2025 NASCAR Playoff TV Ratings at New Hampshire Revealed
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway attracted 1.29 million viewers on USA Network, down 28% from last year’s Kansas opener. Team Penske dominated the race, with Ryan Blaney winning, Josh Berry finishing second, and Joey Logano in fourth. Blaney led a hard-fought battle against Berry in the final laps, marking his third victory of the 2025 season. The playoffs continue at Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Larson previously led 221-of-267 laps to victory.
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