The 2025 Cook Out Clash at the Coliseum delivered a solid ratings performance for FOX, drawing a 1.55 rating and 3.08 million viewers on Sunday. This marks an increase from last year’s edition, which was shifted to Saturday night on FS1, but falls short of the first two runnings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022 and 2023.
Despite the mixed comparisons, the Clash still proved to be a strong TV draw, ranking as the No. 2 sports event of the week, trailing only the PGA Tour.
Year-to-Year Ratings Trends
The rise in viewership compared to 2024 suggests that moving the race back to network television (FOX) played a significant role. Last year’s Saturday night slot on FS1 had limited reach, whereas FOX’s broader audience helped NASCAR regain some ground. However, the numbers did not match the Clash’s debut in 2022, which generated significant intrigue as NASCAR introduced the quarter-mile stadium format.
Impact of Venue Change
This year’s race was the first Clash held outside of Los Angeles, as NASCAR shifted the event to Daytona International Speedway for the first time since 2020. The return to Daytona brought back a traditional superspeedway setting, which may have influenced both fan interest and ratings trends.
With the Clash continuing to be NASCAR’s season-opening exhibition event, its future location and format will remain key factors in maintaining and growing its television audience. NASCAR and its media partners will analyze these ratings as they prepare for the full-season launch at the Daytona 500, which is expected to draw significantly higher viewership.
For now, the Cook Out Clash at Daytona provided a solid boost in numbers, but NASCAR will look for further gains in its premier events throughout 2025.
