In 2024, Tony Stewart shared his thoughts on the NHRA drag racing scene. He stated, “I enjoy it. I enjoy the people, the atmosphere, and the camaraderie—nothing against other racing series, but it has an old-school feel that I haven’t experienced in a long time. When I say that, I don’t mean it’s outdated at all, but the fun I’ve had there, even before I started driving, is huge.” Now, it all makes sense.
For more than seventy years, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has been the backbone of American drag racing. It started in the 1950s when car enthusiasts took their modified street cars to the track instead of racing on city streets, and NHRA quickly became the top place for straight-line speed. Icons like Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, John Force, and Shirley Muldowney turned quarter-mile races into thrilling displays of raw power.
However, in today’s media world, motorsports are not only about speed; they also involve who controls the broadcasting rights. FOX Sports has traditionally been the home of NHRA, but changes might be on the horizon. With a $5.48 billion media giant watching closely, could NHRA’s next major race move off the track and into the hands of an unexpected contender?
Could there be a big change in motorsports media?
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has had a strong partnership with FOX Sports, which has been the only network showing NHRA events since 2016. In 2020, they announced a multi-year extension that guarantees NHRA races will be aired on FOX, FS1, and FS2 for years to come.
During this partnership, FOX Sports has given a lot of coverage to NHRA’s top events, including the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. The TV schedule for the 2025 season includes eight broadcasts on the main FOX network, showing how important NHRA is to FOX’s motorsports lineup.
As the existing broadcast deal nears its end, NHRA is actively looking into its media rights possibilities. To help with this, NHRA has brought on Octagon, a well-known sports marketing and media agency, to provide guidance on content strategy and to assist with media rights discussions for the next television cycle.
Octagon’s role is the first time the NHRA has looked for outside help with media rights. This could mean a change in how they handle broadcasting. The goal of this partnership is to review and improve NHRA’s media presence, which might help them reach more fans through different platforms, such as Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) services like Roku Channel, Samsung TV+, Sling Free Stream, and Tubi.
Importantly, The CW is a major candidate, with reports saying they are interested in getting NHRA rights.
With The CW’s growing focus on live sports, including its recent agreements for ACC football and basketball, adding NHRA to its schedule could greatly enhance its sports offerings. If a deal happens, it could give NHRA more visibility beyond its current audience on FOX.
As NHRA works through these negotiations, the landscape of motorsports broadcasting might change a lot. The result could reshape how fans interact with drag racing content, possibly bringing in new players and shifting the way motorsports media rights are handled. Have you noticed how The CW has been expanding lately? Is it just a stroke of luck, or a smart strategy? Perhaps they simply found themselves in the right place at the right time, focusing on the right goals.
The CW’s Expanding Sports Lineup
For a long time, The CW was famous for its teen dramas and superhero shows, but lately, it has made a surprising shift to live sports. The network has already gained rights to major events like LIV Golf and ACC college football and basketball. Additionally, it stepped in to show the last eight races of the 2024 season after NBC pulled out. Now, with reports that it may seek NHRA’s media rights, The CW could strengthen its position as a serious sports broadcaster.
This change fits into The CW’s larger plan under its new ownership. Nexstar Media Group, which took a majority stake in 2022, is actively rebranding the network to attract a broader audience. Adding NHRA to its schedule would provide The CW with another important live sports asset, helping it compete with traditional sports channels and streaming options.
Moving to The CW could also help NHRA. The network reaches almost every home in America through free broadcasts, making it a tempting choice compared to cable-only agreements. If NHRA teams up with The CW, it could attract a younger and more diverse crowd, which the sport has been trying to engage lately.
With its growing sports lineup and free TV access, The CW is quickly becoming a significant player in the media rights arena. However, some recent broadcasting issues, especially with NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, have raised doubts about the network’s ability to manage live sports coverage well.
It will be interesting to see if The CW can tackle these challenges and become a trustworthy place for motorsports fans.
