Christopher Bell zoomed past the checkered flag last Sunday, clinching the 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and pocketing a cool $1 million. This was his first All-Star win, and it came against the defending race winner, Joey Logano, who led 139 laps. It was the late race call by the #20 team to pit for two tires that made all the difference. And despite a defensive masterclass, Logano wasn’t able to hold out Bell.

The All-Star Race, a staple in the annual racing calendar, has always been a draw thanks to its unique offerings: a winner-takes-all $1 million prize pool, a promoter’s caution, a manufacturer’s showdown, and the carefree, top-notch racing that comes without the worry of points. It’s supposed to be a highlight, a chance to see the best of the best go at it without the usual stakes. But this year, something was missing, and it wasn’t just the checkered flag.

Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that the All-Star Race, originally dubbed the “Winston Race” when it started in 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was meant to be an exhibition race featuring past and present racing stars. The idea was simple: bring together different generations of racers, let them duke it out, and call it the “All-Stars.” But fast forward to 2025, and the “All-Stars” part is more of a nostalgic nod than a reality. For the past few years, it’s been the same Cup Series drivers week in, week out, turning what was once a celebration of racing legends into just another gimmick-filled exhibition. Even the most seasoned racers are rolling their eyes at the silliness of it all. And the fans? They’re not just disappointed; they’re furious, and the plummeting TV ratings tell the tale.

Let’s talk numbers, because they don’t lie. The All-Star Race on FS1 pulled in 1.965 million viewers on Sunday, which might sound okay at first glance. But compare that to last year’s 2.573 million, and you’re looking at a drop of nearly half a million eyeballs. Ouch. This was an 8 pm Sunday race on FS1, not on big FOX, that could’ve played a role in the dipping numbers. As far as on-track product goes, for many, this was the best short-track race they’ve seen in the Next Gen era. Of course, there’s the exception of the 2024 spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

But fans didn’t hesitate in pointing out the real issue, and it was once again aimed at FOX’s commitment towards NASCAR. Especially at a time when they’ve found a new home at IndyCar.

Gimmicks and lackluster coverage are the reason behind the dipping numbers, argue NASCAR fans

“Is it just me or did it feel like FOX did ZERO promotion leading up to this race?” one fan wrote on Reddit, their frustration palpable. And they’re not wrong. The lack of promotion was glaring, especially when you consider that Indy 500 qualifying, which happened around the same time, also saw a dip in viewership. “I also noticed Indy qualifying was down, and seems that FOX is only promoting the 500 and not the other events around it,” another fan added, hitting the nail on the head. FOX’s focus on the Indy 500, a race with its own drama and draw, left the All-Star Race feeling like an afterthought, and it shows in the numbers.

But it’s not just about promotion. The race itself has lost its luster for many fans. “I’m a casual fan, and I honestly don’t understand what even makes it an ‘all-star race.’ Sure, there’s a million dollar payout, but it’s the same drivers as every other week,” a fan confessed. Clearly, the million bucks, the fireworks and the promoter’s caution didn’t make this race any more special. Had the teams agreed to a ‘run what you brung’ proposal, who knows we might have seen a return of the Jeff Gordon’d T-Rex car-like concept. And that would be something special, out of the ordinary, to pull in the casual fan to watch an exhibition race.

“Some of the other aspects of the weekend weren’t really promoted well or at all.” This sentiment echoes the race’s evolution from a star-studded affair to a repetitive showcase of the same faces. The “promoter’s caution,” intended to spice things up, ended up frustrating drivers like Joey Logano, who felt it cost him a win. “I’m all about no gimmicks with the caution. I am all about that. I’m a little — me and Marcus Smith aren’t seeing eye to eye right now, okay? I’ve got to have a word with him,” Logano said, his disappointment clear.

For fans, it’s not just about the caution; it’s about the lack of star power and the feeling that the race has become a sideshow. “Wouldn’t this be a trailing numbers type of thing? With recent races not being so great and last years all star at the same track not being great this years race being good probably can’t make much of a live impact on ratings,” another fan highlighted. This is a clear indication for NASCAR to do something about the short-track package, the Next Gen car has delivered a snooze fest on traditional short ovals. And there’s a possibility, last Sunday’s race was a lucky one, just like the 2024 spring Bristol race.

The 2024 race’s lack of excitement set a precedent, and despite a better showing in 2025, the viewership didn’t bounce back. “I think for most, the All-Star is a skippable event. It doesn’t count for points. The million dollar draw isn’t even a big deal anymore, so there’s hardly anything on the line. It was at a short track and there has been so much negative press, why bother,” a fan summed it up. Well, veteran drivers have spoken about taking the All-Star race back to Charlotte Motor Speedway, given that the Next Gen car is better suited for the 1.5-mile ovals, NASCAR should tweak their plans for their special event. Maybe shift the Clash to North Wilkesboro, and make the Charlotte All-Star race a double payout in terms of points, that would be a game changer.

And finally, “The overlap with Indy stuff damn sure kept me from watching it. Indy was wild and exciting,” another fan admitted, pointing to the competition that sealed the All-Star Race’s fate. Indy’s qualifying and race were electric. Not to forget, even NASCAR’s star driver, Kyle Larson, was at the Indy 500 qualifying, which goes to show that between the qualifying at Indy and the All-Star race, fans were more inclined to follow the open-wheel racing.

The narrative here is clear: the All-Star Race has lost its way, and the fans are voting with their remotes. FOX’s lack of promotion, NASCAR’s failure to refresh the format, and the race’s own identity crisis have all contributed to the decline. It’s a wake-up call, one that NASCAR and FOX need to heed if they want to save this race from becoming a relic of the past.