NASCAR scored its tenth increase of the season last weekend, more than the two previous seasons combined.
Saturday’s NASCAR Bristol Night Race averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.50 million viewers on NBCSN, up a tick in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (1.4, 2.33M), but down 35% and 34% respectively from 2017 on the NBC broadcast network (2.3, 3.82M).
Denny Hamlin‘s win was the tenth Cup Series race this season to increase over last year, the most at this point of a season since 2013 (12), and more than the two previous seasons combined (nine).
Increases are nothing new for the Bristol Night Race, which has been an up-and-down draw in recent years. This year marked the fifth time this decade that it has posted an increase.
Even with the increase, ratings and viewership remained historically low. Saturday’s race topped only last year as the lowest rated Bristol Night Race since at least 1998 and the least-watched since at least 2000. Just five years ago, ratings and viewership were more-than-twice as high at a 3.2 and 5.08 million — with the caveat that the race aired on broadcast TV that year (ABC).
It ranked fourth in ratings and fifth in viewership among sporting events last weekend, trailing three NFL preseason games and PGA Tour golf, and seventh in adults 18-49 (0.37).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 8.20]
