As the 2025 season approaches its conclusion, momentum is mounting in the NASCAR world, and voices like Kenny Wallace are pointing to encouraging changes. The recent surge of team expansions, key manufacturer returns, and a sense of renewed opportunity all contribute to a climate of hope, making the topic of Kenny Wallace NASCAR optimism more relevant than ever.
Growth Sparks Positive Outlook Among Teams and Drivers
In recent weeks, prominent shifts have been evident in NASCAR, signaling fresh confidence about the sport’s outlook. Legacy Motor Club, a respected competitor in the Cup Series, is reportedly preparing to field a third entry by 2027, an addition that would bring the Cup grid up to 37 full-time cars. Kenny Wallace addressed this development by noting the growing faith in NASCAR’s underlying structure:
“Breaking news in the garage area and it’s finally really good stuff… we have another cup team that is getting a charter. I’m pretty sure it’s Legacy Motorsports (Motor Club). We were at Charlotte for the Roval, and I think it was Erik Jones that maybe told us that. So as they would say, the demise of NASCAR is greatly exaggerated… We have another team coming in, looks like full time. So that means what, 37 full-time cars. So NASCAR is doing something right because everybody keeps signing up.” (0:37 onwards) — Kenny Wallace, Veteran Driver and Analyst
The addition of a new team and car signals industry confidence in the viability of NASCAR’s revenue-sharing system, with each of the 36 current charters ensuring income from major broadcast agreements. Teams like Rick Ware Racing remain steady, retaining their chartered entries for the years ahead, helping sustain grid depth and competitiveness at each event.
Beyond the Cup Series, other developments have added to the positive momentum. After a significant absence, Ram—whose parent company Stellantis is aiming to reinvigorate its presence—is set to return to the sport through a partnership with Kaulig Racing in the Truck Series. This marks one of the largest manufacturer comebacks in over a decade, further bolstering enthusiasm within the paddock.
Kaulig Racing and Ram Fuel New Ambitions in the Truck Series
Kaulig Racing’s new collaboration with Ram will coincide with the manufacturer’s relaunch of its NASCAR effort. Leading the five-truck initiative is Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, the ARCA Menards Series champion, who will serve as the first full-time Truck entry for Kaulig, adding both talent and excitement to the line-up. Kenny Wallace voiced his approval for these changes:
“If that’s not enough, we just see that Stellantis hired Kaulig to be the new Truck Series team… So now their car count’s getting bigger, just not in the Cup Series, but the Truck Series and guess who’s going to drive the first Dodge truck for Kaulig? The perfect driver. Old Butterbean. Man, he has earned it, huh?” (1:58 onwards) — Kenny Wallace, Veteran Driver and Analyst
This partnership, first showcased at the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram dealership, is not only noteworthy for its size but also for what it indicates about Stellantis’ bigger plans. Their involvement, especially via a recognized outfit like Kaulig Racing, hints at potential moves to restore the Dodge brand within NASCAR’s flagship divisions.
Queen’s recent accomplishments—eight ARCA victories and two top-ten finishes during a brief stint in the Xfinity Series—showcase his potential for a successful debut in trucks, and his arrival only adds to the sense of growing opportunity in the sport.
The elevated mood is reinforced by fans turning out in large numbers for unpredictable playoff venues, like Talladega Superspeedway, further underlining the momentum that Wallace and key figures observe across NASCAR.
Overcoming Ratings Concerns: The Role of Network Broadcasting
Despite all the advances on the competition and business fronts, NASCAR faces a persistent challenge with TV ratings. As the playoffs progress, recent data indicates that no postseason race has managed to surpass the two-million viewer mark. This decline is significant, given that just one year ago, playoff races televised on NBC and USA Network averaged 2.1 million viewers, compared to this year’s 1.7 million average.
The Las Vegas playoff opener, in particular, struggled to reach even this season’s lower benchmark. The trend highlights both a generational audience shift—with streaming platforms like Prime Video outperforming cable—and the struggle to hold mainstream attention in the U.S., as rival sports like Formula 1 see their domestic popularity rise.
Another factor affecting reach is the limited exposure via traditional, free-to-air broadcasts. Of the Cup Series’ 39 annual races, only nine are available on widely accessible television—five early-season events on FOX and four closing rounds on NBC—while the remainder air on cable or streaming outlets.
Kenny Wallace Predicts a Ratings Boost With NBC
Nevertheless, Kenny Wallace expresses confidence that the upcoming NBC-televised races will spark renewed public engagement:
“All three of the remaining NASCAR races, the Cup races, are on free TV – NBC… Man, I’ll tell you what, we’re going to see the ratings soar now. I’m guessing, over 2 million. We’re getting 1.7 all the time. That’s just nothing. 1.7 just seems like it’s that every weekend. So the last three remaining Cup races on NBC, and that’s exciting,” he said (4:26 onwards). — Kenny Wallace, Veteran Driver and Analyst
The remaining Cup events at Talladega, Martinsville, and Phoenix will serve as a litmus test for Wallace’s belief that universal access can help recapture lost ground with casual fans. Even with a potential increase in viewers, overall postseason averages are likely to remain lower than past years, indicating continued work ahead for NASCAR and its broadcast partners.
NASCAR’s Path Forward: Signs of Resurgence Amid Challenges
As NASCAR operates under a newly minted $7.7 billion media rights agreement running through 2031, the next few months could prove pivotal for the sport’s future trajectory. Key figures, including Brenden Queen, Erik Jones, and organizations such as Kaulig Racing and Legacy Motor Club, are all positioned to play influential roles in shaping this new era.
With optimism growing among industry veterans and expansion projects under way, the climate described by Kenny Wallace suggests an opportunity for NASCAR to rebuild connections with its wider audience, weather its ratings struggles, and drive forward into a new period of growth and excitement.
“Coffee with Kenny”
WHY all the good news in @NASCAR ? pic.twitter.com/DmOoswrECZ
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) October 17, 2025
