Veteran NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski recently expressed serious concerns about the sport’s financial future, focusing on the challenges facing race tracks. During an appearance on Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast, Keselowski identified the overdependence on television revenue and the inability of tracks to generate sufficient independent income as the most alarming threats to NASCAR’s sustainability.
Keselowski’s observations highlight a troubling revenue model that could undermine NASCAR’s foundation, especially as the sport navigates complicated charter negotiations and contemplates rule changes ahead of the 2026 season. His remarks emphasize the need to address the economic pressures affecting both venues and teams alike.
The Financial Struggles Facing NASCAR Tracks
Brad Keselowski pinpointed the current revenue structure surrounding NASCAR tracks as the sport’s primary difficulty. According to the 2012 Cup Series champion, most tracks rely heavily on television money and have not developed strong enough alternative income sources to support themselves independently. This dependency leads to a stagnant system where track owners show little urgency to increase ticket sales or enhance fan engagement, which in turn depresses attendance and reduces money flowing to teams.
“The number one problem with the sport right now is the model with the tracks,” Keselowski said (0:07 onwards)
“The tracks aren’t able to generate enough revenue on their own. They’re wholly reliant on the TV money, and they’re comfortable with that, which is the scariest part of all,” he added.
This financial imbalance has a ripple effect throughout the sport. Since teams receive less revenue from track attendance, they become increasingly dependent on sponsorship deals, which puts their stability at risk. Fans on social media quickly joined the discussion, offering varying views on which tracks are most affected and what solutions might exist.
“He has a point, but tracks like Talladega or Michigan that aren’t close to a major city — what can they do to bring in significant revenue? Concerts? They’d be competing with venues specifically built for them. And conglomerates like LiveNation that stick to their own venues.”
“Being on the track side of things….I agree. IMS is better at this than most but it’s very much an issue”
Some fans connected the problem to broader legal challenges facing the sport, including concerns raised by teams involved in lawsuits regarding revenue distribution.
“This is literally one of the points of the lawsuit from 23XI and Front Row.”
Others pointed to the ownership structure of many family-owned tracks, which some believe contributes to NASCAR’s struggles.
“And it is a NASCAR problem because they along with SMI decided to put every family owned track in their portfolio.”
Questions also surfaced about the direct consequences for racing teams, with some fans seeking greater clarity.
“I’m curious to how the track situation affects the teams so much”
The revenue dilemma unfolds as NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) negotiate over charters and revenue splits. SMI reportedly earns more than $2 billion from TV rights over the contract’s lifetime, in addition to income from ticket sales. NASCAR itself collects around $850 million, including 10% of revenue plus earnings from International Speedway Corporation (ISC) properties. Each chartered NASCAR entry currently averages about $5.9 million annually, underlining the high stakes of how revenue is divided between the league, tracks, and teams.
Upcoming Technical Changes Adding to NASCAR’s Transition
Brad Keselowski’s concerns about finances are paralleled by important technical adjustments planned for the sport, signaling that NASCAR is preparing for notable transformations beyond just economic issues. On the same podcast, Keselowski revealed details about a planned horsepower increase for the NextGen cars starting in the 2026 season.
The cars introduced in 2022 now run engines with a base power of 670 horsepower, often reaching 685 to 690 during races. NASCAR intends to boost horsepower to roughly 740–750, which could significantly alter race dynamics and vehicle performance.
Joey Logano, a fellow Cup Series veteran and teammate at Team Penske, expressed enthusiasm for the change, viewing the upgrade as an opportunity to improve on-track competition.
“It’s definitely cool. I like it. I want to do it. Like, not just the engine, but the drive train. It’s got to be beefed up more. … You want to just make the racing better, right?”
Keselowski also mentioned that NASCAR might increase the size of the engine spacer to make the transition to higher horsepower smoother. Though the sport faces financial pressures, efforts to enhance the technical side indicate a broader strategy to maintain fan interest and competitive racing quality.
Focus Shifts to Playoff Battles and Immediate Challenges
While longer-term financial and technical plans develop, NASCAR’s immediate attention remains on the current playoff races. This weekend, the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet will take place at Kansas Speedway. The 267-lap event is scheduled for September 28 at 3 pm ET, with broadcast coverage on USA Network and radio commentary from MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The stakes are high as drivers and teams compete not only for championship positioning but to sustain the sport through uncertain times. Keselowski’s warnings shed light on a crisis that requires more than just racing prowess—it demands strategic financial and organizational changes to ensure NASCAR’s profitability and longevity.
Clipped this from @keselowski 's appearance on Stacking Pennies because I thought it was interesting: He says the biggest problem with NASCAR currently is the business model with the tracks, which are wholly reliant on TV money because they can't generate enough revenue on their… pic.twitter.com/itQS1Xx848
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) September 25, 2025
Being on the track side of things….I agree. IMS is better at this than most but it’s very much an issue
— James Davis (@jamesjcdavis) September 26, 2025
This is literally one of the points of the lawsuit from 23XI and Front Row.
— Shawn Jones (@shawn_m_jones) September 26, 2025
He’s a nascar encyclopedia.
— E (@tigertheory715) September 26, 2025
And it is a NASCAR problem because they along with SMI decided to put every family owned track in their portfolio.
— ShawnD (@ShawnDulin) September 26, 2025
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