After back-to-back increases, NASCAR returned to record-low territory at Texas.
Last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race from Texas averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.20 million viewers on NBCSN, marking the smallest audience in the 15-year history of the race (excluding rainouts).
Viewership fell 3% from the previous low set last year (2.27M) and 19% from 2017 (2.70M). Kevin Harvick’s win also tied the lowest rating in race history, matching last year and down 13% from 2017 (1.6).
Ratings and viewership have been cut in half from five years ago, when the race had a 2.8 and 4.75 million on ESPN. Ten years ago, it drew a 3.7 and 5.83 million on ABC.
The Texas low comes on the heels of back-to-back increases at Kansas and Martinsville, including a three-year high for the former. While 14 Cup Series races have increased this season — the most in a single year since 2013 — Texas was the 16th to decline.
Even with the drop, viewership is still up 3% for the NBC Sports portion of the NASCAR schedule (from 2.43M to 2.5M). Keep in mind that includes streaming. Viewership also increased 2% for the Fox Sports portion of the schedule earlier in the year.
[Nielsen estimates from NBC Sports PR 11.5, ShowBuzz Daily 11.5]
