NASCAR Looked to Formula 1 Media Practices

CEO Steve O'Donnell indicated a potential shift in how NASCAR promotes driver and team rivalries to fans.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Motorsports

Expressive sports illustration showing two rival stock-car drivers in racing suits, capturing the high-energy competitive tension of modern professional auto racing. — NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell plans to adopt Formula 1 media practices to better highlight driver and team rivalries to fans. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell has expressed interest in adopting media strategies used by Formula 1 to better highlight racing storylines. The executive aims to move away from individual press conferences to better showcase the personalities and rivalries involved in the sport.

Why it matters

O'Donnell hopes that increasing the visibility of interpersonal dynamics between team leaders and drivers will create more engaging narratives for viewers. He noted that while many team leaders remain friends, publicizing their competitive friction is essential for modern sports promotion.

Top five finishers currently conduct pit interviews for a duration of 15 minutes. NASCAR is now exploring whether to adjust these sessions to reflect Formula 1 media models.

The players

Steve O'Donnell

Steve O'Donnell serves as the CEO of NASCAR and oversees strategic operations for the organization.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Joe Gibbs Racing is a professional auto racing organization that is currently involved in a lawsuit against Spire Motorsports.

Spire Motorsports

Spire Motorsports is a racing team currently engaged in a legal dispute with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Chris Gabehart

Chris Gabehart serves as the Chief Motorsport Officer for NASCAR.

The details

NASCAR is considering shifting to group media sessions, similar to the couches used by Formula 1 podium finishers, to foster direct competition in post-race environments. The organization is also focusing on publicly identifying existing executive rivalries, such as the current litigation between Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports.

Late 2026 is the expected timeframe when only one team executive animosity will be on public display.

Season Trajectory

Adopting these media practices represents a shift in how NASCAR positions itself against global racing series like Formula 1. By centralizing rivalry promotion, the league seeks to sustain fan interest throughout the season regardless of individual race outcomes.

Fans can expect a move toward more group-style interviews and heightened coverage of team executive tensions. This strategy change specifically targets the visibility of the current legal conflict between Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports.

The takeaway

NASCAR's pivot toward more interactive, rivalry-focused media sessions underscores the league's push to modernize its entertainment value. Fans should expect future coverage to emphasize the personal and corporate friction between competing racing teams.