NASCAR’s iconic voice and legend, Dale Earnhardt Jr is leaving NBC. The 49-year-old served as the race analyst for the broadcasters since 2018. He will be making a switch to NASCAR’s newcomers, Amazon Prime Video and Warner Bros who managed to ink a new TV broadcast deal with NASCAR, starting from 2025.

Dale Jr. and NBC were in a contract agreement until 2023, but they were unable to sign an extension. With this development, Dale Jr is expected to continue to focus on his show Dale Jr Download and his racing schedule for the rest of the 2024 season. With his new role at Amazon and WBD lined up for 2025, he can assess his options for the rest of the season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr joins the new wave of NASCAR broadcasting

According to a report by Athletic, it is believed that Dale Jr. informed NBC about his decision last week. The founder of DJR dropped a bombshell to his fans and community, letting them know that his contract with NBC was up and they have not signed an extension. However, after a memorable stint of six years at NBC, Dale Jr will now be heading to Amazon Prime Video and WBD.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is beloved in the NASCAR world and has made numerous contributions to NBC Sports, from his work as an analyst on our NASCAR coverage to his experiences as a correspondent at major events like the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Olympics,” an NBC Sports spokesperson told The Athletic. “We thank Dale and we wish him the best going forward.”

Jr during his podcast, did express his desire to continue his association with NBC. But unfortunately, it was not meant to be. “I definitely love being in the broadcast booth and want to continue doing that,” Earnhardt said on his podcast. “We’ve had some great conversations with all of NASCAR’s TV partners. My home and my love is at NBC, and I’d love to be back with them. So we’ll see where it goes.”

This move is significant if one looks at it from a broader perspective. Dale Jr is looking to lead the charge for a change that NASCAR has initiated with a new TV deal and onboarding new broadcasting players to the sport.

NASCAR is looking to turn a corner with a diverse broadcasting approach

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Traditionally, NASCAR has gained its status as a popular sport among TV audiences. While that formula did wonders for the sport in the past, the TV ratings have dipped in recent times. Thus, allowing NASCAR to explore more options against that tried-and-tested traditional approach. With the young audience and viewers inclined towards online streaming, NASCAR decided to take a fresh approach to target such viewers and thus inked a deal with Amazon Prime and WBD.

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Both Amazon and TNT will exclusively telecast five Cup Series races starting in 2025. Interestingly, Amazon Prime will also hold exclusive rights to stream qualifying races and practice sessions from the start of the season through its five-race schedule.

Warner Bros will then take over the broadcast of practice and qualifying for the rest of the season on truTV and stream on MAX. Meanwhile, FOX and NBC are still the primary drivers in terms of telecasting, with 14 races each. The arrival of new players and diversifying its broadcasting approach is a welcoming change.