In the high-octane world of motorsport, two giants dominate the landscape—but they rule over entirely different kingdoms. NASCAR reigns supreme in America, packing massive oval tracks with roaring crowds and delivering door-to-door racing that feels like homegrown thunder.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Across the Atlantic and beyond, Formula 1 captivates the globe with its glamorous circuits, cutting-edge technology, and international allure. A stunning new survey from S&P Global Market Intelligence lays bare this divide: roughly 75% of U.S. racing fans tune into NASCAR, while an overwhelming 90% of motorsport enthusiasts outside America follow Formula 1.

The data, drawn from surveys of internet-using adults across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, reveals motorsport’s uneven global footprint. In countries like Italy and China, a full 25% of respondents reported watching races from NASCAR, F1, or MotoGP in the past year. India and the UK followed closely at 22%, with Germany at 19%. Yet in the U.S., only 10% of adults said the same—highlighting how NASCAR’s grip on domestic fans contrasts sharply with F1’s international dominance.

Demographics tell an even starker story. American motorsport viewers skew older, with most over 55, fueling long-standing concerns about NASCAR’s aging fanbase. Internationally, F1 draws younger crowds—especially in emerging markets like China and India—who are more digitally engaged and diverse.

This isn’t just about who watches what; it’s reflected in the numbers across the board. Globally, F1 dwarfs NASCAR in reach and revenue. Recent estimates peg F1’s annual earnings at around $3.6 billion, compared to NASCAR’s roughly $425 million. Attendance follows suit: F1 events draw over six million fans yearly across exotic locales like Monaco and Silverstone, with single races like the British Grand Prix hitting 480,000. NASCAR’s flagship Daytona 500 caps at around 182,000, with total seasonal attendance in the 3-4 million range despite having far more races per year (36 vs. 24 for F1).

On social media, F1’s glamour shines brightest—its official Instagram boasts nearly 37 million followers, against NASCAR’s 4 million. Global search interest tells a similar tale: Formula 1 racks up about 40 million monthly queries worldwide (with the U.S. contributing just 6%), while NASCAR hovers around 3 million, 84% from America.

In the U.S., however, NASCAR holds the edge in TV viewership. Cup Series races average 2.8-2.9 million viewers domestically, outpacing F1’s 1.1-1.3 million on ESPN platforms. Head-to-head clashes often favor NASCAR, though F1 has notched wins on high-profile weekends like Miami.

Yet trends point to change. Boosted by Netflix’s Drive to Survive, three U.S. races, and a younger demographic, F1 is surging stateside—some projections even suggest it could overtake NASCAR in American popularity by the mid-2030s. NASCAR, meanwhile, fights to rejuvenate its base amid declining viewership in recent years.

This divide isn’t a flaw—it’s what makes motorsport thrilling. NASCAR embodies raw, accessible American grit: pack racing, close finishes, and fan proximity. F1 offers pinnacle engineering, global prestige, and star power from drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. One thrives on home soil; the other conquers the world.

In the end, there’s room for both. Whether you’re tailgating at Daytona or sipping champagne in Monaco, the roar of engines unites fans across borders. But as data shows, the passion burns brightest in very different places.

Getty

AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 Long John Silver’s Ford, and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Body Guard Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Hettinger Racing will enter the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time in 2026, marking the team’s first complete season at NASCAR’s national second-tier level. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based organization confirmed the move on December 23, 2025. Team owner Chris Hettinger said the timing aligned with the series’ growth and expanded national exposure.

The team will field the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, supported by Ford Performance, with engines supplied by Roush Yates Engines. Hettinger Racing secured owner points from Cope Family Racing’s No. 70 entry, guaranteeing a starting position in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026. Driver and sponsorship announcements will come at a later date.

Hettinger Racing locks in a full-season NASCAR entry

The 2026 campaign represents a major step forward for Hettinger Racing, which has competed primarily in late model racing, the zMAX CARS Tour, the ARCA Menards Series, and select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. Moving to a full-season national schedule required long-term planning and stability.

“This is about putting our race team in the right place at the right time, Hettinger said in a team release.” “The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has incredible momentum. It features great racing, and the series gets significant exposure thanks to coverage from The CW.”

Hettinger stated that the new platform played a significant role in the decision. “Combining that platform with the support of Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines gives us the opportunity to grow our program into one that competes at a national level, he said.”

All races in 2026 will air live on The CW Network, with practice and qualifying streaming on the CW App. The season will be the first under the O’Reilly Auto Parts title sponsorship, following the end of Xfinity’s 11-year run as series sponsor.

Ford’s partnership and leadership structure take shape

Hettinger Racing’s alliance with Ford strengthens the manufacturer’s presence in the series after several teams moved to Chevrolet ahead of 2026. The No. 5 team will run Ford Mustang Dark Horse bodies paired with Roush Yates Engines.

Doug Yates, president and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, praised the approach Hettinger has taken. “I’ve been impressed by what Chris Hettinger has already built, and Roush Yates Engines is proud to be a part of Hettinger Racing’s future growth, Doug said.”

“Chris is a racer and a very good businessman who is taking a smart and methodical approach to 2026, Yates added.” “All of us at Roush Yates Engines are committed to him and his vision for Hettinger Racing.”

Veteran crew chief Joe Williams Jr. will lead the No. 5 program. Williams previously worked with Alpha Prime Racing and served as crew chief for Cole Custer during the 2022 season.

Team goals and early preparation for 2026

Hettinger said Williams’ experience will play a key role as the team builds through its first full season. “[Williams] brings a ton of experience, a ton of knowledge, and we’re looking forward to how he can grow this program going forward, Hettinger said.”

“Our goal for this year is to continue to build our program as the year goes on, finish races, run all the laps, and be prepared for every race that we go to and put ourselves in position to win, he added.”

Hettinger Racing has already made progress ahead of schedule. “I actually feel really, really good about our program right now, Hettinger said.” “Joe Williams and our guys have worked really, really hard. We basically have cars ready for the first four events. We feel like we’re way ahead of the game right now.”

The team plans to participate in the open preseason test at Rockingham Speedway in late January. Additional announcements are expected in the weeks leading up to the Daytona opener.

Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce

Daniel Suarez’s 2025 season was not particularly one to write home about. The 33-year-old finished 29th in the standings, marking a rather underwhelming end to his tenure with the organization. The lone high point came when he won the Xfinity Series race on his home ground in Mexico City. His wife, Julia Piquet, spoke about the moment back in September.

Piquet, in a conversation with Samantha Busch, the spouse of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, was asked what it was like to race in front of so many fans who were rooting for Suarez. She explained that it was not a case of them traveling to Mexico City on a whim and returning immediately after the win. The visit had been months in the making.

Suarez and Piquet traveled to the city multiple times before the race for promotional activities, fan engagements, sponsorship meetings, and more. When race day finally arrived, it was Piquet who felt and showed the most pressure. Suarez, staying true to his nature, remained as calm and collected as ever.

She said, “I felt a lot of pressure for him. I can’t speak for him. I mean, a lot of people always ask me, ‘Does Daniel get nervous before a race?’ And I’m like, ‘Honestly, if he does, he doesn’t show it.’  He’s always cool as a cucumber. He’s always in the right mindset. I’m sure there was   extra pressure obviously for Mexico City, but he never, never shows it, you know?”

Piquet had been nervous enough for both of them, given how badly Suarez had wanted to race again in front of his home crowd. The sheer number of media personnel and documentary crews following them around only added to the pressure. Once Suarez reached Victory Lane, the atmosphere turned absolutely electric, and Piquet was still in awe of it even months later.

She continued, “I get goosebumps every time I think about it because it was so magical. You couldn’t have scripted it any better. To crash in qualifying and come back in a backup car. I mean, they were singing the national anthem for the Xfinity race when they were rolling the car onto the grid because it took them up to the last minute to get it fixed or to prepare the backup car. It was a storybook ending.”

In 2026, Suarez will leave Trackhouse Racing for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series. Expectations are that he is able to fare a lot better with the team than he did with Trackhouse. 

With around two months to go until the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series goes green, Big Machine Racing made the announcement of the exit of Nick Sanchez in early December, after recording the team’s first win since 2022 this past season. Regardless, the team has since moved on, announcing his replacement on Tuesday.

Sanchez’s exit came as a surprise, given that not only did he win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Focused Health 250, but he recorded a further six top-five finishes as well as another five top 10s, coming home 12th in the driver’s standings.

News of the 24-year-old’s exit did not go down well with Hall of Fame driver and JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who labeled the decision “surprising” because of both his performances in 2025 and the late timing of it all.

Speaking on the ‘Dale Jr. Download’ podcast, the 51-year-old added, “It’s late. It’s a tough part of the year to find out that you don’t have a job for next season.”

He noted how the “talented” Sanchez could already have a new spot lined up, however, given that as of December 23 he has yet to make any announcements regarding a new home for 2026, this seems increasingly unlikely.

Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.

“He’s decent, and he’s got some talent,” Earnhardt later added. “The other thing too I like is that he pisses some people off, right? I mean, I don’t love that cause sometimes he pisses me off or he pisses one of my guys off…But as a fan or as a broadcaster and as somebody who’s like wanting to fall in love with the sport. We need guys like that.”

With Sanchez no longer behind the wheel of the No. 48 BMR Chevrolet, it now falls upon Dr. Patrick Staropoli, who also happens to be a retina surgeon, to fill his shoes for the 2026 season. 

The 36-year-old made his series debut in 2025, making four appearances for Sam Hunt Racing, finishing a season best of 16th at Martinsville Speedway in the US Marine Corps 250.

This will mark Staropoli’s first full-time season in any of NASCAR’s national series, while he also has yet to complete a full-time slate in the ARCA Menards feeder series.

“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2003, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport. The path has taken many unexpected turns but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”

BMR crew chief and team manager, Patrick Donahue, said the team was “pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the #48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season.

“He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”

A familiar name is set to return to NASCAR’s biggest stage after MBM Motorsports confirmed that veteran driver Casey Mears will look to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2019. Mears has competed in ‘The Great American Race’ fifteen times with his best finish of second in 2006.

Team owner Carl Long confirmed that MBM Motorsports and Garage 66 will field the No. 66 entry for Mears on NASCAR radio on Tuesday. The 47-year-old driver’s return places him among the notable non-chartered NASCAR entries attempting to race their way into the field.

Mears has not started the Daytona 500 since 2019, when he finished 40th after crashing in Stage 2. He made several starts for the MBM and Garage 66 last season. Alongside Mears in the No. 66, confirmed open entries include Justin Allgaier in the No. 40 for JR Motorsports, B.J. McLeod in the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports, and Jimmie Johnson in the No. 84 for Legacy Motor Club.

Several additional teams, including RCR, NY Racing, Team AmeriVet, Tricon, Beard Motorsports, and 23XI, have also been mentioned as potential entrants, creating a tight qualifying environment.

During his 16-year Cup career, Mears has started 494 races, with one win, 51 top-10 finishes, and three poles. His only Cup win occurred at the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, which established him as a fan favorite during his prime.

His first Cup race came in the 2003 Daytona 500, making this return a full-circle moment more than two decades later. Carl Long’s own Daytona 500 history adds another layer to the storyline.

As a team owner, Long has endured a series of DNQs at Daytona, with failed qualifying attempts stretching from 2000 through 2009 across multiple teams and manufacturers. The entry with Mears represents another chance to finally break through at a race that has repeatedly slipped just out of reach.

MBM Motorsports will also field an ARCA Menards Series entry at Daytona for Derek White. The Canadian stock car driver’s only registered Cup Series race was the 5-hour Energy 301 in New Hampshire, where he finished 33rd.

Mears also made his Truck Series debut with the team last season at Martinsville Speedway and drove the No. 69 Pit Stop Diecasts Ford F-150 for his 600th NASCAR start. He raced to a 24th-place finish during the Slim Jim 200 and said how special it was for the team to give him such an opportunity.

“It’s pretty special to come back to Martinsville for my 600th NASCAR start,” said Mears. “This sport has given me so many incredible experiences, and to make my Truck Series debut with MBM Motorsports and The Pit Stop Diecasts at such an iconic track is exciting.”

“The Truck Series has always been on my list. It’s tough, exciting racing, and Martinsville is the perfect place to make it happen.”