FOX interrupts NFL playoff game to talk about – Sports News
Instead of competing for viewers with the NFL, NASCAR leveraged its relationship with FOX to remind America’s soccer viewers that whereas the Wild Card continues to form out the playoffs, racing season is shortly approaching.
During Saturday night time’s NFC Wild Card game between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, the community out of the blue cut away from soccer to air a full Daytona 500 promo, then adopted it up by rerunning the identical spot during industrial breaks. The advertisements ran following an anticipated proposal to increase the NFL’s schedule to 18 regular-season video games that might intrude with Daytona’s schedule.
The industrial generated reactions on NASCAR and NFL social media, with many noting that playoff soccer continues to be essentially the most reliable viewers attract American sports activities. Some followers noticed the choice as a intelligent business transfer, whereas others seen it as a revealing insight into the game’s present standing within the hierarchy.
NASCAR personalities, together with Kevin Harvick had been current at Bank of America Stadium, the place followers additionally noticed his son Keelan, donning a Jaycee Horn Panthers jersey. Cam Newton’s return to pound the Keep Pounding drum introduced further star energy, and Charlotte native WWE famous person R-Truth was seen supporting from the stands.
The 2026 Daytona 500 airs Feb. 15 on FOX, and this yr’s race carries added intrigue thanks to the Open Exemption Provisional. That rule change permits Jimmie Johnson to enter the season opener within the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, whereas additionally giving groups like JR Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., a more simple path to qualifying.
Last yr’s race noticed William Byron win, but in addition served as a reminder of the chaos that comes with the Crown Jewel occasion. A huge 12-car wreck on lap 71 that worn out contenders together with Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Helio Castroneves, Chase Briscoe, Jimmie Johnson, Riley Herbst, John Hunter Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, Cole Custer, and Cody Ware was only one of the race’s elements.
The climate has additionally develop into a recurring storyline for the race. Rain has affected three of the final 5 Daytona 500s, together with the 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024 occasions. President Donald Trump notably left due to the climate after watching simply 11 laps of final season’s race.
Last yr’s NFL Wild Card weekend averaged a reported 31–34 million viewers per game throughout streaming companies, conventional TV, and native affiliated networks mixed. The 2025 Daytona 500 averaged simply over 6 million viewers and was the most-watched sporting occasion of that weekend.
Super Bowl LVIII attracted roughly 123.7 million viewers and is thought to be the most-watched broadcast in U.S. tv historical past. Last yr’s NFL Conference Championship video games every drew over 55 million viewers, underscoring FOX’s promotional efforts for NASCAR.
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