NASCAR fans are about to witness another name change they probably won’t embrace. The second-tier series is ditching the Xfinity name for something much longer and clunkier, and the internet reactions are already pouring in with all the enthusiasm of a flat tire on lap one.
Since 2015, the series has carried the Xfinity name after Comcast took over title sponsorship duties from Nationwide Insurance. That era will now come to an end, and from January 1, 2026, the second-tier series will officially be called the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
O’Reilly isn’t exactly new to the sport. The company, founded in 1957 in Springfield, Missouri, has sponsored several races across NASCAR, including events at Daytona and Texas. With more than 6,400 stores across the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada, O’Reilly has grown into a household name in the auto parts world.
Why Is NASCAR Changing the Xfinity Series Name Again?
The deal with NASCAR is set to be a multiyear agreement that includes more than just naming rights. Promotional activities and new opportunities with broadcast partner The CW are also part of the package.
A bold new chapter is about to be written.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series becomes the NASCAR @OReillyAuto Parts Series starting in 2026. pic.twitter.com/djqon33he1
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 18, 2025
“Like the great sport of NASCAR, O’Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s president. “This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR’s stars and fans while celebrating the journey we’ve been on together for decades.”
This marks the fourth time NASCAR’s second division will have a new name. The series debuted in 1982 as the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series before being renamed the Busch Grand National Series in 1984. In 2008, Nationwide Insurance stepped in, and then Xfinity replaced them in 2015.
What Are Fans Actually Saying About the Name Change?
While the business side of the agreement makes sense, the fan reaction online told a very different story. NASCAR posted the rebrand announcement on X, and the comments poured in quickly.
A bold new chapter is about to be written.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series becomes the NASCAR @OReillyAuto Parts Series starting in 2026. pic.twitter.com/djqon33he1
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 18, 2025
One fan bluntly said, “We not callin it that.” Another chimed in, “I’m probably never gonna stop calling it the Busch Series.” Some even poked fun at the new sponsor, with one fan writing, “what’s crazy about O’Reilly is that they are one of the businesses where I can picture their logo, sing their theme song, and still don’t know 1 person who goes there.”
The deeper issue goes beyond just the sponsor choice. One fan wrote, “The xfinity series needs their own unique name. Example, the ‘cup series’ and ‘truck series’ got theirs. Xfinity has always been called by the series sponsor. ‘I’m just watching the O’Reilly auto parts series.’ Sounds corny.”
The fan rightly argued the series should have a permanent name of its own rather than being tied to whichever sponsor happens to be on board. Another fan joked, “Does anyone even shop here? I know 0 people over the course of my entire life that have gone here.”
Despite all the pushback, O’Reilly and NASCAR are betting big that the partnership will strengthen ties with fans and keep the series growing into the future. However, for its part, Xfinity released a statement thanking NASCAR and the fans for their support over the past decade.
