NASCAR’s storied Southern 500 at Darlington isn’t getting the respect it deserves, according to veteran motorsports journalists who’ve taken aim at the sport’s television partnership. Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck voiced sharp criticism on The Teardown podcast about the race’s placement on USA Network rather than NBC’s main broadcast channel.
The Southern 500 made history as NASCAR’s first 500-mile race. It helped elish Darlington as the original superspeedway. Yet under NASCAR’s current seven-year media rights deal running through 2031, the crown jewel event now airs on cable.
“I don’t know how to say this politely, but I do think that the Southern 500 could use a little bit more gravitas,” Gluck stated during the podcast discussion. “This is the kind of race that should be on NBC, like big national network television.”
The debate centers on visibility, not quality. Under the agreement with FOX, NBC, Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery that began in 2025, NBC Sports holds rights to the final 14 Cup Series races. USA Network produces all 14 but broadcasts only 10, including the playoff opener.
What drives the frustration? NASCAR’s most prestigious events deserve platforms that match their historical significance, critics argue. The financial realities of modern sports broadcasting tell a different story.
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