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NASCAR's 2025 All-Star Race Gets Unfortunate Update

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 20, 2025 2:49 PM ET

A captivating NASCAR All-Star Race didn't net huge ratings for FS1.

On Sunday night, Christopher Bell won $1 million by finishing 0.829 seconds ahead of 2024 winner Joey Logano. The two drivers delivered considerable drama in the closing laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

However, viewership nevertheless dropped. According to Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern, All-Star Race ratings dropped from last year's 2.573 million to 1.965 million

NASCAR wasn't the only motorsport to take a weekend ratings hit. Stern also reported that Sunday's Indianapolis 500 qualifying run dipped to 924,000 viewers on FOX after drawing 1,145,000 viewers on NBC last year.

Like seemingly every other sport, NASCAR faces questions about its All-Star event. Critics like Kevin Harvick, who called the race for FOX, have wondered whether the spectacle has run its course.

Others were displeased by a controversial new "Promoter's Caution" that played prominently into Sunday's finish. Logano led when the random yellow flag came out on the 217th lap.

Bell, who pitted during the caution, passed Logano on the 241st lap and narrowly crossed the finish line first at North Wilkesboro. Logano wasn't too pleased about the outcome.

"I'm pissed off right now," Logano said. "Just dang it, we had the fastest car. I'm trying to choose my words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously, I got bit by it, so I am the one frustrated."

However, the famous North Carolina short track still yielded an entertaining event.

Those who tuned into Sunday's All-Star Race seemed to enjoy the exhibition. In a poll run on social media by The Athletic's Jeff Gluck, 83.8 percent of respondents called it a good race.

That's the highest All-Star approval rating from Gluck's informal poll since 2019, and only three of the past 10 have received a thumbs-up from at least 52 percent of participating fans.

Before the All-Star Race, NASCAR saw a slight ratings bump in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR will watch the viewership numbers closely when Amazon Prime Video streams the Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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