NASCAR Rumors: Teams looking to explore shorter TV rights deals

NASCAR and the teams racing in the organization have been in constant conversations regarding the charter agreement for the 2025 season. The current charter will expire following the end of this year's campaign. As negotiations continue, reports suggest that teams might not sign a long-term TV deal.

The 2025 charter agreement was initially expected to be finalized in the summer, but reports indicate significant dissatisfaction with NASCAR's proposals. Recent developments suggest that NASCAR will not allow permanent charters for the 2025 season. Additionally, a clause in the proposal permits the France family to purchase a charter themselves, which has sparked considerable criticism from team owners and the fans.

NASCAR recently signed a new $7.7 billion media rights deal, which reportedly is of the same duration as the proposal that they brought forth. Fox News journalist Bob Pockrass reports that teams might explore the idea of not signing a media rights deal for more than the required amount. Here's Pockrass' post on X (formerly Twitter) captioned:

"Silly season to charters: Top NASCAR storylines as season returns from Olympic break

Additionally, amid ongoing charter negotiations, teams and drivers reportedly aim to leverage NASCAR's new deal with Netflix, which will document the 2024 playoffs, to secure a more favorable agreement aligned with their proposals. Netflix documented the 2023 playoffs and acquired notable success.

Drivers and teams have also been in a continuous sponsorship battle with NASCAR. Joe Gibbs Racing's #11 driver Denny Hamlin, who is also co-owner of Cup Series team 23XI Racing pointed out that the organization approaches the same sponsors that the teams approach, to strike a deal that will benefit both parties. Moreover, Hamlin emphasized the need for those sponsors, as it costs teams roughly $18 million a year to run one car in the Cup Series.

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Brazil eyes NASCAR Cup Series race in 2026

As NASCAR aims for international events in the Cup Series calendar for the 2025 season, there has been speculation about Brazil wanting to host a Cup Series race in 2026.

NASCAR's representative in Brazil, Tom Dannemiller, met with Tarcísio de Freitas, the governor of São Paulo, and Ricardo Nunes, the mayor of São Paulo, on Thursday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of hosting the Cup Series pre-season clash.

“We are always looking for the best attractions for São Paulo that can bring in tourists, as well as attract investment and generate jobs. We have a racetrack that is a reference for the sport and we have everything we need to put on a great event,” Governer Freitas said (via Motorsport.com).

The last time a Cup Series race was held outside of the United States was in Canada at the Circuit Trois-Rivières in Quebec, in 1958. If the deal to have the 2026 race in Brazil follows through, it would mark the first time that NASCAR holds a points race in South America.