Dale Earnhardt Jr. will officially continue to anchor NASCAR in 2025.
Amazon and TNT announced Tuesday that Earnhardt Jr. will serve as a commentator for each network's Cup Series coverage when NASCAR's new television deal begins next season. Amazon and TNT will each air 10 races in 2025, with Fox taking over for the season opener and NBC taking over for the season's end.
Junior remains the most recognizable figure in NASCAR and has worked as an analyst for NBC since retiring from the Cup Series at the end of the 2017 season. However, he said his contract with NBC expires after the 2023 season, and the network previously confirmed he would not return for the 2024 season.
“I am very excited to welcome TNT Sports back to NASCAR,” Junior said in a statement. “I remember watching the races on TNT back in the day, and it’s so nostalgic to see them come back to the sport and be part of the team.”
Amazon's hiring of Earnhardt Jr. continues a trend of finding high-profile commentators on its sports products. Amazon is hiring longtime NFL announcer Al Michaels and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit for Thursday night NFL games.
“I'm honored to be a part of Prime Video's entry into NASCAR,” Junior said in an Amazon statement. “Having the opportunity to offer our NASCAR fan base a new way to watch the sport is a very exciting opportunity. We are excited to see the innovation Prime Video will bring to our sport and our fans. I’m looking forward to it.”
NBC has been scaling back its investment in NASCAR and cutting costs ahead of the 2025 season. The station acquired the rights to broadcast 20 races in 2024, but plans to broadcast only 14 races in 2025. Fox is also cutting back. In addition to the two exhibition races, 16 points races will be televised this year.
The 10 Cup Series races won't be the only programming Amazon and TNT will feature in 2025. Amazon will be the home for all practice and qualifying for Fox Cup races, and TruTV will televise practice and qualifying for all races on TNT and NBC.
The CW has acquired the rights to the second part of the Xfinity Series in 2025 and is scheduled to air the final eight races of the 2024 season this year after acquiring it from NBC.
Next season will mark Amazon's first foray into motorsports and the first time a Cup Series race will be held exclusively on the streaming platform. TNT has held the broadcast rights to NASCAR for decades, but has not aired a NASCAR race since 2014.
