Facing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in two years, NASCAR suffered another ratings drop last weekend.
Last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race from Atlanta averaged a 2.2 rating and 3.72 million viewers on FOX, marking the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 1998 and the least-watched since at least 2001 (excludes rainouts).
Ratings fell 12% and viewership 6% from last year’s race, which was postponed to June (2.5, 3.96M). Compared to the 2019 race, which took place in March, ratings and viewership fell 29% and 27% respectively (from 3.1, 5.07M).
Keep in mind that the race had not previously competed with NCAA Tournament games. The last time a Cup Series race aired opposite the tournament, 2019, Texas drew a similar 2.2 and 3.65 million on Elite Eight Sunday.
Atlanta was the sixth race of the season. Last year’s sixth race, Darlington on a Wednesday night in May, had a 1.2 and 2.09 million on FS1. The sixth race in 2019, Martinsville, aired on the same March weekend — but on FS1. It had a 1.5 and 2.46 million.
Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR was the top non-NCAA Tournament sporting event of the weekend.
In other NASCAR action, the Xfinity Series race from Atlanta drew a 0.6 and 1.14 million on Saturday. Last year’s June race there had a 0.8 and 1.27 million.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.24]
