NASCAR CEO on future business growth: All about partnerships

Summary

NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell and USA Sports president Matt Hong discuss NASCAR's accelerating business momentum, including higher attendance, younger fans, record merchandise sales, and strong TV ratings. They emphasize partnership-driven growth through Project 2032, expansion into new markets, and the importance of star drivers in the Chase. Matt Hong frames NASCAR as a foundational, sponsor-driven media property for USA Sports after its spin from NBCUniversal.

• NASCAR reports its strongest business season in years with attendance up, commercial momentum up, younger fans arriving, and trackside merchandise at a decade high.
• Steve O'Donnell attributes growth to partnerships and aligning the industry around a five-year Project 2032 plan.
• The San Diego race drew about 70% new fans and sold out merchandise on the first day, with Northwest and Denver cited as possible future markets.
• Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace being in the playoffs highlights the value of driver star power.
• The Iowa race on USA delivered the largest non-Olympic sports audience of the year on USA Network.
• Matt Hong calls NASCAR a foundational, sponsor-driven, ratings-reliable workhorse for USA Sports and its parent company.
• No public equity or directly tradable security was clearly named in the discussion.