Rumor: ESPN after NASCAR TV contract

John Ourand has made his annual sports predictions for 2022 and one is that ESPN could be interested in NASCAR coverage again. While this is merely speculation, Ourand is well connected to sports media professionals.

While the NASCAR TV rights won’t renew until 2024, initial discussions will likely take place with potential partners sometime next year.

This deal won’t be completed in 2022. After all, NASCAR’s current deal runs through 2024. But when the car racing circuit starts its negotiations next year, it will find that Fox wants to renew, while NBC Sports, which will shut down NBCSN on Jan. 1, is more tepid. Talks with ESPN will heat up this year. Fox and ESPN will split the NASCAR package as part of a deal signed in 2023.