When rumors were abuzz about the Cup Series media rights being handed over to streaming giants, fans had not expected to tune it to four different platforms in 2025. But the revelation of the split deal for the next seven years had fans worried about the crown jewel of NASCAR- the Daytona 500. And NASCAR President Steve Phelps could not truly assuage those fears.

For the past 42 years, the Great American Race has acted as the season-opener and its placement is rooted in the prestige and tradition of the sport itself. As the racing fandom furiously pointed out, its movement would be “the final nail in the coffin”.

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Since the current FOX and NBC rights deal was ending in 2024, an announcement for the future of NASCAR’s televised races was highly anticipated. When President Steve Phelps, along with the new media partners, gathered for a press conference, the racing community wondered if the races would no longer be televised. But it seems everyone wanted a slice of the lucrative pie and along with FOX and NBC, Amazon and Warner Brothers Discovery will also get to stream a portion of the races from 2025 to 2031. However, what truly caught fans’ attention was President Steve Phelps’ reluctance to commit to the Cup’s longstanding format.

Phelps had already needled fans this year by switching the regular season final from the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at the Daytona International Speedway to the Southern 500 in Darlington. And now the All-Star Race will also be moved to accommodate it earlier in the FOX Sports’ streaming portion. Witnessing this many changes in scheduling and venues, it is natural that fans began wondering about the future of the iconic Daytona 500. F

OX journalist Bob Pockrass acknowledged this fan sentiment and enquired Steve Phelps about it. And although Phelps confirmed, “I don’t see it happening,” the racing community had hoped for an absolute denial. Calling the pre-Daytona Clash, “a placeholder”, the NASCAR President divulged the status of its jewel. 

Phelps claimed, “What I do know is, the Daytona 500 is going to continue to be where the Daytona 500 is, what happens with the Clash moving forward- exhibition or other, I don’t know at this point.” When Pockrass sought reassurance, Phelps said, “I think it’ll be the Daytona 500 be the kickoff to the regular season for the foreseeable future.” And then he made the racing season even more uncertain by declaring, “What happens in 25 [2025] and beyond, I don’t know, schedule-wise at all, other than where we are going to start at the regular season.”

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Unsurprisingly, his resistance against a firmer stand when it came to the Daytona 500 and other crucial races led to an instant backlash.

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What was even more frustrating, Steve Phelps used fan service as the reason behind needless changes. Speaking to Bob Pockrass, the NASCAR President stated, “We have a responsibility to the fans to continue schedule variation…because I think it has worked. It’s been effective for us in driving attendance, in driving ratings, in driving interest in the sport, both casual as well as avid fans.”

But no amount of justification could satisfy enraged fans when Phelps suggested the Daytona 500 would not be shifted in the “foreseeable future”. The comment section immediately warned him, “Daytona 500 will remain regular season opener for the “foreseeable future” Better not think of changing it AT ALL EVER sir”.

Another fan agreed, “Yeah that foreseeable future is a scary foreshadowing I’m afraid. It’s going on the chopping block to the highest bidder it sounds like.” This led a disgruntled fan to express, “Awful. Must be a rich man’s sport now. Gets worse every year”. Many social media users wrote scathing comments against Phelps himself.

“This guys terrible at his job”. Sensing a foreboding shift in NASCAR, a fan even suggested, “Foreseeable future sounds like something a villain would say”. One can only hope the wishes of the racing fandom would be kept in mind before taking a step as drastic as moving the Daytona 500 from its place of deserved honor.

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