NASCAR Talladega ratings tied a two-decade low on NBC.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Talladega (Ala.) earned a 2.2 rating and 3.51 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, down 21% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (2.8, 4.73M) and flat and down 2% respectively from 2016 on NBCSN (2.2, 3.58M).
Aric Almirola’s win tied the lowest Cup Series rating at Talladega since at least 1998, matching 2016. It was also the least-watched edition of the race since at least 2001, falling below the previous low set in ’16.
A decade ago, the race had a 4.6 rating and 7.44 million on ABC. Five years ago, it was still at a 3.1 and 4.92 million on ESPN.
Excluding rainouts, Talladega was the 23rd of 27 Cup Series races this season to post a decline in ratings and viewership. It was the 22nd to hit an all-time or decade-plus low.
As is usually the case, Talladega was still a larger-than-usual draw. It was the highest rated and most-watched Cup Series race in more than two months, since Watkins Glen on NBC in August (2.3, 3.67M), and ranks third among all NBC Sports races this season — behind Watkins Glen and Daytona in July (2.7, 4.44M).
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 10.18]
