What is NASCAR’s stock price, and are they publicly traded? Unfortunately, investors cannot purchase shares of NASCAR because it is a private company. However, General Motors (NYSE: KM), Ford (NYSE: F), and Toyota (OTCMKTS: TOYOF) are automobile stocks that traders can invest in.
Did you know NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing? It was founded in 1948 in Florida by Bill France Sr. and became one of the world’s most popular and commercially successful racing series.
You would expect NASCAR to be traded on the NASDAQ exchange, but it isn’t. All jokes aside, NASCAR is a privately owned entity, making it impossible for retail investors to invest in it directly. However, investing in NASCAR through publicly traded companies associated with the sport is possible.
Many public automakers, sponsors, and media networks fight for the right to participate in this sport. Here’s everything you need to know about NASCAR and the other companies involved.
Chart by TradingView
Table of Contents
NASCAR Introduction (No Stock Symbol)
Bill France Sr was a racer and a mechanic who wanted to create a single body to oversee stock car racing. What exactly are stock cars? They are modified production cars designed specifically for racing on oval tracks and road courses.
In its early years, NASCAR races revolved around racing on the sandy beaches of Daytona and the dirt tracks of the Southeastern US. The sport quickly gained popularity, and it had to expand. It’s too bad that it didn’t include NASCAR stock.
Larger, paved tracks were introduced to accommodate a growing crowd.NASCAR’s early icons include Lee Petty, Junior Johnson, and Richard Petty. NASCAR’s growt,hast attracted corporate sponsors. Safety, technology, and marketing innovations transformed NASCAR into a mainstream phenomenon, solidifying America’s most popular motorsport.
In the 1990s, television contracts with FOX and NBC brought NASCAR into millions of homes worldwide. At the same time, partnerships with Coca-Cola, Ford, and Chevrolet gave the sport even more credibility.
NASCAR Recent Challenges
One of the biggest challenges for NASCAR is growing its fan base and attracting new stars to replace the top-rated drivers who have retired in recent years (Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and Jimmie Johnson).
The organizers are trying to get fans more involved by enhancing their experience. This includes introducing the playoff system, new racing venues, rebranding the premier series as the NASCAR Cup Series, and efforts to diversify the driver roster and fan base.
Today, there are more than 75M NASCAR fans worldwide. Over 3M people watch an average race. Which would be great if they had a NASCAR stock.
NASCAR isn’t the only one competing for viewership. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and other major sports in the US are in the same boat.
In recent years, racing, in general, is slowly becoming more popular in the US. One prime example is the surge of Formula 1 in the US. More about NASCAR’s biggest competitor later in the article.
NASCAR Stock of Series
NASCAR offers various racing series. Each offers unique racing experiences and opportunities for drivers to showcase their talents.
- NASCAR Cup Series – NASCAR’s premier division with the most skilled drivers.
- NASCAR Xfinity Series – A stepping point for up-and-coming drivers. It features slightly modified stock cars and competes on many of the same tracks as the Cup Series.
- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – Modified pickup trucks racing on various tracks. It also serves as a developmental series for drivers aiming to progress to higher levels of NASCAR competition.
- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – A regional touring series in the northeastern United States.
- NASCAR Whelen Euro Series – NASCAR-style European racing (France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the UK).
- NASCAR Pinty’s Series – NASCAR in Canada.
How to Invest in NASCAR Stock
NASCAR isn’t publicly traded and doesn’t intend to become one in the upcoming years. Therefore, there is no NASCAR stock. However, it remains possible to invest in NASCAR. One of the primary ways is through publicly traded companies associated with the sport.
Track owners
Until 2019, International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Inc (SMI) were track owners traded on US stock exchanges. These companies owned, respectively, 12 and 10 NASCAR tracks. Private companies bought for $2B (ISC) and $800M (SMI). They owned some of the most famous venues: Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway.
Automakers
There may no longer be any public NASCAR track owners, but plenty of automakers exist. Major automobile manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, and Toyota participate in NASCAR through their racing divisions. While their stock prices may not be directly tied to NASCAR’s performance, success on the racetrack can positively influence brand perception and sales.
1. General Motors (NYSE: GM)
GM has made a significant and long-standing contribution to NASCAR through its Chevrolet brand since 1949. Chevrolet has won the most NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer’s championships with 42 titles, far surpassing any other make.
In 2021, Chevrolet became the first brand to reach 800 wins in the Cup Series. Over the decades, GM has invested heavily in developing engines, aerodynamics, and other technologies specifically for NASCAR racing to gain a competitive advantage. Other GM brands such as Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick have provided factory support and race cars.
2. Ford (NYSE: F)
Ford was one of the first major automakers to get involved in NASCAR in the early years, providing factory-backed support and race cars from brands like Ford and Mercury. It has won 17 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer’s championships and over 700 race wins. Both are second only to Chevrolet. Therefore, it’s like owning NASCAR stock.
Fun fact: Edsel Ford II, Henry Ford’s great-grandson and the “Godfather of Ford Racing,” has been a driving force behind Ford’s NASCAR involvement. He was awarded the 2020 NASCAR Landmark Award for his lifetime contributions to racing.
3. Toyota (OTCMKTS: TOYOF)
Toyota has only been a part of NASCAR since 2004. It became the first foreign manufacturer to compete since the 1970s (MG). While a relatively new entrant compared to Ford and Chevrolet, Toyota has quickly established itself as a force in NASCAR, making it a good NASCAR stock substitute.
It has amassed over 600 wins across all series and multiple championships. The company has proactively developed potential future NASCAR stars through its Toyota Racing Development program.
4. Sponsors
Sponsors are very important for NASCAR. Various sponsors paint cars, drivers, uniforms, equipment, and merchandise. NASCAR’s stock of their fans is highly passionate and brand-loyal, providing sponsors with a direct connection to engage this dedicated audience through meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and social media.
Did you know that more Fortune 500 companies sponsor NASCAR than any other sport in the US? Here are a few.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO)
Coca-Cola is one of NASCAR’s Premier Partners. It sponsors the top Cup Series and has a massive presence at races with branding and product sampling. The company sponsors two annual races (Coke 600 and Coke Zero Sugar 400).
Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD)
Anheuser-Busch is another Premier Partner. It has sponsored NASCAR for decades, previously holding naming rights for the Xfinity Series. They’ve backed prominent drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick.
Chevrolet (NYSE: GM)
Chevrolet cars have been some of the most successful throughout NASCAR’s history, and it is the biggest sponsor ($48M annually).
Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ: GT)
Goodyear has been the official tire sponsor since 1954. They constantly innovate tires for NASCAR’s evolving technical landscape, such as the Next Gen car.
5. Media Networks
FOX and NBC have been NASCAR stock partners for decades. However, a 7-year $7.7B media rights deal begins in 2025 and will continue until 2031, with new players entering the game. The competition for media rights is intensifying between networks.
Fox Corporation (NASDAQ: FOX)
Fox Sports will continue broadcasting 14 NASCAR Cup Series races per season, including the Daytona 500. It also has rights to the entire Craftsman Truck Series.
Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA)
NBC Sports will broadcast the final 14 Cup Series races yearly, including the playoffs and championship race. Some races will also stream on Peacock.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
Prime Video will be NASCAR’s first direct-to-consumer streaming partner, exclusively broadcasting five mid-season Cup Series races.
Warner Bros (NASDAQ: WBD)
TNT Sports will broadcast five mid-season Cup Series races, with additional TruTV and Max streaming service coverage.
NASCAR Public Competitor
Formula 1 is NASCAR’s biggest global competitor in auto racing. It is a publicly traded company under the umbrella of Liberty Media Corporation. Multiple stock tickers (FWONA, FWONB, and FWONK) trade on the NASDAQ and OTC markets. NASCAR stock doesn’t exist, however.
F1 has seen rapidly growing popularity in the U.S. with the help of “the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.” The US Grand Prix has had many locations (Georgia, California, Detroit, Phoenix, and Indianapolis).
Since 2012, it has been in Austin, Texas. In 2022, organizers added a second race in Miami. This year, there will be 3 Formula 1 races in the U.S. for the first time with the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
For the moment, Formula 1 isn’t a big threat to NASCAR. However, its growing popularity may force NASCAR to adapt and innovate to appeal to a younger and tech-savvy audience.
Final Thoughts: NASCAR Stock
To conclude, NASCAR is one of the world’s most popular and successful racing series. It has captured the hearts of Americans for many decades thanks to many automakers (GM and Ford) and sponsors (Coca-Cola, Busch, Chevrolet, and others).
However, there are still a few challenges ahead. NASCAR has to adapt to an evolving preference among the American demographic and increasing competition from Formula 1.
It isn’t possible for those who wish to purchase NASCAR stock, but you can always purchase shares from some of its public associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no NASCAR stock.
The France (original owner) and Kennedy families own NASCAR.
Formula 1 (F1) is NASCAR’s biggest global competitor.
