The world of NASCAR fans and NFL got tangled recently when Dale Earnhardt Jr., a beloved NASCAR icon, found himself in a trademark dispute with NFL star Lamar Jackson over the stylized No. 8, a symbol tied to Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports and Jackson’s “Era 8” brand. The conflict saw Jackson file an opposition claim against Earnhardt’s trademark application, only for Earnhardt to secure his rights days later. This pegged fans of both sports against each other, but now, something else has found a more brutally divided reaction.

The playoff schedule, a 10-race gauntlet where every lap counts toward crowning a champion, is colliding with NFL games in cities that are NASCAR strongholds. The NYTs’ Athletic calls the NFL’s TV schedule, spanning FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, and YouTube, a “television behemoth.” And in its wake, dwindling race track attendance and steadily low marginal growth of NASCAR races have fans worried whether they will be able to survive the clash, forcing them to make tough choices.

There seems to be no way out of a NASCAR-NFL schedule clash

The numbers tell a grim story. NASCAR’s TV ratings are slipping, with even strong showings overshadowed by the NFL’s juggernaut. Even though the Kansas race on FOX drew solid 5.85 million viewers, it may get dwarfed by NFL games like the Chiefs-Cowboys Thanksgiving matchup, projected to pull over 30 million on CBS. The 2025 NFL Draft drew 12.9 million viewers, the second-highest ever, highlighting football’s vice grip on America. For NASCAR, this is a fight for eyeballs in a world where the NFL holds all the cards.

On September 21, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon battles a Patriots home game. September 28 pits Kansas Speedway against the Kansas City Chiefs. October 5 sees Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval race compete with the Carolina Panthers, and October 12 has Las Vegas Motor Speedway clashing with the Raiders. Only Phoenix is on for November 2, with the Cardinals away. These conflicts, outlined by FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass on X, feel like a gut punch to fans who live for playoff drama.

NASCAR’s woes go beyond scheduling and legal distractions. Criticism of its on-track product—repetitive racing, controversial rules—has fueled fan discontent. Kansas’s 5.85 million viewers were a “bright spot,” but it’s not enough. The Earnhardt-Jackson saga, though resolved, sparked rumors like a fake Talladega No. 8 gear ban, but it left a crack between the two extreme sports.

The clash stirs memories of better days. There was a time when the NFL and NASCAR worked together to avoid such conflicts, particularly in markets like Charlotte, where the Panthers once avoided scheduling home games during the fall race weekend. That courtesy is gone, and playoff races risk being drowned out where football fandom runs deep. The question haunts fans: racetrack or gridiron?

A worried one posted on X: “Looks like NFL is not worried about NASCAR.” The truth stings: the NFL, with its unmatched clout, doesn’t seem to consider NASCAR’s playoff dates. This lack of coordination feels like a dismissal of NASCAR’s place, leaving fans clamoring on social media with raw and unfiltered takes on NASCAR’s future.

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Fans wanted to avoid the NASCAR-NFL standoff

One fan commented, “NASCAR should go exclusively Saturday night once the NFL season starts.” This fan’s plea offers a lifeline. Saturday night races, like Bristol’s Night Race, which pulls over 6 million viewers, thrive under the lights, dodging NFL’s Sunday dominance. Playoff races, mostly Sunday afternoons, clash directly with football. Shifting to Saturday could preserve NASCAR’s intensity but requires overhauling broadcast deals with FOX and NBC—a logistical nightmare. Fans see it as a way to reclaim the spotlight.

The uncertainty hits hard in Kansas, where the Chiefs are kings. Kansas Speedway, 15 miles from Arrowhead Stadium, relies on its 60,000 seats filling up. Last year, it drew over 50,000, but with Mahomes playing September 28, ticket sales could falter. “I hope Kansas attendance isn’t affected by the Chiefs playing at home that day”, wrote another concerned fan. Kansas’s TV viewership has usually held strong, but attendance is vulnerable. Plus, the Earnhardt-Jackson saga, though resolved, added local buzz; Jackson’s Baltimore ties and Earnhardt’s NASCAR roots stirred social media, potentially splitting fan focus. For a sport struggling with empty grandstands, this clash could gut Kansas’s playoff vibe.

One resigned fan’s comment reflects growing cynicism: “That’s unfortunate, you would hope the NFL would want to avoid conflicts like this but whatever.” Fans hoped for mutual respect, as when Charlotte’s NFL and NASCAR teams coordinated schedules. Now, the NFL’s unchecked power, bolstered by its multi-platform dominance, has left NASCAR scrambling. The “whatever” is a gut punch implying fans losing faith in a fair fight.

NASCAR’s legacy seems like its slipping in its own backyard. “I remember when the Panthers would never schedule a home game the same weekend as the Charlotte fall race,” lamented one fan. This nostalgic post recalls when NASCAR held peak sway in the Carolinas; Charlotte Motor Speedway, a NASCAR mecca, once saw the Panthers adjust schedules to avoid clashing with the fall race, which drew 80,000 fans in its prime. Now, the Panthers’ October 5 home game threatens the Roval race’s playoff drama. Charlotte’s 2024 race saw sparse crowds, and this NFL overlap could worsen it.

The NASCAR community’s alarm is deafening. With ratings and attendance faltering, the NFL’s scheduling muscle, and legal dramas like Earnhardt-Jackson stealing headlines, fans plead for change—Saturday races, a better product, or a return to mutual respect with football. This clash is a wake-up call for NASCAR to fight for its fans and legacy before the grandstands fall silent.