The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has been a feature of American culture and entertainment for decades. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Cars” are NASCAR-inspired box office hits, and Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are drivers that became American icons.
Despite being steeped in tradition, the racing series has faltered in popularity recently. Viewership of the Daytona 500, one of the most highly anticipated races of the year, peaked at just under 20 million in 2007, and in 2024, less than nine million people tuned in. The decrease in viewership is because of several factors, from the constantly changing playoff format to failing to modernize and adapt to the new media landscape.