Motor Racing Network
Motor Racing Network is the largest independent sports radio network in America, delivering NASCAR race play-by-play coverage via satellite to 600 radio stations and the American Forces Network, complemented by podcasts and digital content for NASCAR fans.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersConcord, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Motor Racing Network does
Motor Racing Network (MRN), founded in 1970 by NASCAR founder William H.G. "Big Bill" France and currently operated by NASCAR Digital Media, LLC, is the largest independent sports radio network in America and the primary radio broadcaster of NASCAR stock car racing. MRN provides flag-to-flag play-by-play coverage of NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series events, with exclusive coverage of 26 of the 39 annual NASCAR Cup Series races. Programming is delivered via satellite to approximately 600 radio station affiliates across the United States, the American Forces Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and is enjoyed by more than 8 million unique yearly users across broadcast and digital platforms.
MRN's core technical infrastructure consists of a satellite uplink/distribution backbone, the proprietary Trucast FTP automated content-delivery system (used for NASCAR Today and NASCAR Hot Pass daily newscasts), and Audio 1 XDS receiver equipment provided free to affiliate stations. Around this backbone, MRN operates a layered content portfolio: four live racing-series broadcasts, daily newscasts (NASCAR Today, NASCAR Hot Pass), a weekly news-magazine show (NASCAR Live), weekly recap and regional programs (Monday Morning Race Recap, NASCAR Coast to Coast), a deep historical archive (MRN Classic Races), and a growing podcast slate (MRN Crew Call, Winged Nation, NASCAR Live Wide Open). Distribution extends to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and the American Forces Network, and the network complements in-venue experiences via the ISM Vision Powered by BoldVu digital engagement network at NASCAR tracks.
MRN is headquartered in Concord, NC, with 11-50 employees led by President Chris Schwartz. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) radio affiliate programming/affiliation fees, (2) national advertising with local advertising avails (six 70-second breaks per hour) resold to affiliate stations, and (3) digital/podcast content monetization. The company sells no apps, has no API or SDK product surface, and operates as a single unified broadcast service rather than a multi-product platform. The firm is privately held, has no disclosed funding rounds, and functions as a controlled subsidiary of NASCAR Digital Media, LLC within the broader NASCAR corporate structure.
Motor Racing Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Motor Racing Network
- Legal name
- Motor Racing Network, LLC
- Website
- https://mrn.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Motor Racing Network is the largest independent sports radio network in America, delivering NASCAR race play-by-play coverage via satellite to 600 radio stations and the American Forces Network, complemented by podcasts and digital content for NASCAR fans.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Motor Racing Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Audio Rights & Live Game Audio Networks (MPABAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations (MPABAJAB), Sports Digital Audio Broadcasts (Live Radio, Play-by-Play, Podcasts) (MPAKAOAG)
Keywords
Where Motor Racing Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Concord
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Motor Racing Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Radio Affiliate Programming Fees: MRN charges radio stations affiliation fees for access to live NASCAR race broadcasts and ancillary programming. Affiliation is described as a minimal commitment compared to other sport affiliations.
- National and Local Advertising: MRN sells national advertising during broadcasts, with local avails provided to radio affiliates (6 seventy-second breaks per hour for local sales). The network leverages NASCAR fan loyalty and demographic data for ad sales.
- Podcast and Digital Content: Original podcasts and video-on-demand programs covering NASCAR and Dirt Sprint Cars, including MRN Classic Races archives and specialty shows like NASCAR Coast to Coast.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Motor Racing Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Motor Racing Network produces and distributes live play-by-play radio coverage of NASCAR stock car racing and ancillary programming, including flag-to-flag broadcasts of NASCAR Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Craftsman Truck, and ARCA Menards Series events, daily and weekly news shows, original podcasts, and an archive of classic race broadcasts. Content is delivered via satellite to approximately 600 radio station affiliates nationwide and the American Forces Network, with companion digital access through mrn.com and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Product overview
Motor Racing Network is a radio broadcasting network for NASCAR stock car racing, operating as a single unified broadcast service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of live play-by-play race coverage across four racing series (NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series), supplemented by daily and weekly news programs (NASCAR Live, NASCAR Today, NASCAR Hot Pass, Monday Morning Race Recap), original podcasts (MRN Crew Call, Winged Nation, NASCAR Coast to Coast), and an archive of classic race broadcasts (MRN Classic Races). All content is delivered via satellite to approximately 600 radio station affiliates nationwide and the American Forces Network, with companion digital offerings including video content and streaming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NASCAR Cup Series Coverage Award-winning flag-to-flag play-by-play radio coverage of NASCAR Cup Series events, delivered via satellite to over 600 radio stations nationwide and the American Forces Network. MRN covers 26 of the 39 annual Cup Series events.
- NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Coverage
Quantifiable outcome
- 600 radio stations nationwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Motor Racing Network
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Motor Racing Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Motor Racing Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Performance Racing Network (PRN)coreMRN connects with Performance Racing Network to fill in the remainder of the NASCAR Cup Series season when MRN does not provide coverage. The two networks share racing radio broadcasting responsibilities.
- SiriusXMcoreMRN content and talent appear on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, providing satellite radio distribution for NASCAR coverage and talk shows.
- NASCAR Racing NetworkcorePartnership between MRN and PRN for exclusive coverage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series broadcasts, combining resources for truck racing coverage.
- American Forces NetworkminorMRN programming is delivered via satellite to American Forces Network, extending NASCAR coverage to U.S. military personnel stationed worldwide.
- International Speedway Corporation (ISC)coreISC, owner/operator of 13 major motorsports entertainment facilities, partnered with ISM Vision to form ISM Vision Powered by BoldVu, the World's Largest 360-degree Digital Engagement Venue Network.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Motor Racing Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Performance Racing Network (PRN): PRN is MRN's closest competitor, covering the remaining 13 of 39 NASCAR Cup Series events and sharing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series coverage with MRN. Both networks split NASCAR radio audio rights, making PRN the most direct peer in the motorsports radio broadcasting space.
- Westwood One: Westwood One is one of the largest independent sports radio networks in the U.S., distributing NFL, NCAA, and other sports audio content to radio affiliates nationwide. It shares MRN's core business model of sports radio syndication and is comparable in network size and affiliate distribution strategy.
Broad incumbents
- SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio is both a distribution partner for MRN content and a competing sports audio platform. It represents the satellite radio tier of motorsports audio distribution, complementing and partially overlapping with MRN's terrestrial radio network.
- NASCAR on NBC: NBC holds broadcast TV rights for portions of the NASCAR Cup Series, competing with MRN for audience attention and NASCAR content rights. While a television rather than radio broadcaster, NBC's NASCAR coverage competes for the same fan mindshare and advertising dollars.
- Fox Sports NASCAR: Fox Sports holds broadcast TV rights for portions of the NASCAR Cup Series. As a competing NASCAR media rights holder, Fox Sports competes with MRN for audience engagement and NASCAR fan advertising dollars across different media formats.
- ESPN Radio: ESPN Radio is the dominant national sports talk and play-by-play radio network. While broader in scope than MRN, ESPN Radio competes for sports audio advertising dollars and provides comparable nationwide sports radio syndication to affiliates.
- CBS Sports Radio: CBS Sports Radio is a national sports talk and sports content radio network. It competes with MRN in the broader sports radio advertising market and shares the multi-affiliate distribution model, though CBS Sports Radio covers a much broader range of sports.
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia owns the largest terrestrial radio station group in the U.S. and operates iHeartRadio, a major digital audio platform. As a major MRN affiliate customer and a competing audio content distributor, iHeartMedia is relevant both as a customer and a broader audio industry peer.
- Audacy: Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) operates a major U.S. radio station group with significant sports programming including CBS Sports Radio distribution. As both a potential MRN affiliate customer and competing sports audio programmer, Audacy represents a broad incumbent peer.
Emerging players
- TuneIn: TuneIn is a digital audio streaming platform that aggregates radio stations and podcasts globally. While not a content producer, TuneIn is a competing distribution channel for sports audio content and represents the digital alternative to MRN's traditional satellite-to-affiliate model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Motor Racing Network social profiles
Digital presenceMotor Racing Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Motor Racing Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Motor Racing Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Motor Racing Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Motor Racing Network
What does Motor Racing Network do?
Motor Racing Network produces and distributes live play-by-play radio coverage of NASCAR stock car racing and ancillary programming, including flag-to-flag broadcasts of NASCAR Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Craftsman Truck, and ARCA Menards Series events, daily and weekly news shows, original podcasts, and an archive of classic race broadcasts. Content is delivered via satellite to approximately 600 radio station affiliates nationwide and the American Forces Network, with companion digital access through mrn.com and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Is Motor Racing Network a public or private company?
Motor Racing Network is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Motor Racing Network founded?
Motor Racing Network was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Motor Racing Network based?
Motor Racing Network is headquartered in Concord, United States, in the North America region.
How does Motor Racing Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Radio Affiliate Programming Fees are the primary driver. The others are national and Local Advertising and podcast and Digital Content.
Who are Motor Racing Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Westwood One. Broad incumbents are SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NASCAR on NBC, Fox Sports NASCAR, ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, iHeartMedia and Audacy. TuneIn is listed as an emerging player.
Does Motor Racing Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Motor Racing Network.
What industry is Motor Racing Network in?
Motor Racing Network's product category is Sports Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAJAK, Sports Audio Rights & Live Game Audio Networks, with a secondary code of MPABAJAB, Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.