NASCAR ratings wrap: Finale up, season down

The NASCAR season ended on a slightly better note in the ratings, though the season could not quite measure up.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season averaged 2.93 million viewers across FOX, FS1, NBC and NBCSN, down 4% from last year (3.06M), down 6% from 2019 (3.11M) and the least-watched season on record. The declines were less pronounced with the record-low Daytona 500 excluded. The season averaged 2.866 million sans-Daytona, down 1% from last year (2.91M) and a fraction of a percent from’ 19 (2.871M).

While viewership was down overall, it should be noted that the share — the percentage of homes tuned to the race in the average minute out of the total number of homes using televisions — increased 8% from last year and 11% from 2019. The share has become an increasingly relevant metric to sports leagues in recent months, as it is a metric immune from the broader trend of viewers watching less linear television.

Last Sunday’s Cup Series finale from Phoenix averaged a 1.95 rating and 3.21 million viewers on NBC, up 4% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (1.9, 3.06M) and the highest rated and most-watched fall Phoenix race since 2018 (2.0, 3.31M). Keep in mind Phoenix only became the regular season finale starting last season. Compared to the 2019 finale from Homestead-Miami, ratings fell 13% (from 2.2) and viewership 14% (from 3.74M).

Kyle Larson’s win, which averaged 3.27 million including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen, was the seventh of the final ten Cup Series races this season to post an increase in viewership. Keep in mind that excludes the Monday rainout at Talladega.

The previous day’s Xfinity Series finale drew a 0.6 (flat) and 1.01 million (+3%) on NBCSN and last Friday’s Truck Series finale drew a 0.30 (+3%) and 473,000 (-4%) on FS1.

The full Xfinity Series season averaged 1.04 million viewers, up 9% from last year (952K) and 2019 (954K). The Truck Series averaged 594,000, up 16% from last year (511K) and 13% from 2019 (549K).