NASCAR hit a new ratings low at Talladega, but the numbers were not too bad by 2020 standards.
Last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race from Talladega averaged a 1.9 rating and 3.10 million viewers on NBC, marking the lowest rated race at the track since at least 1998 and the least-watched since at least 2001 (excluding rainouts). Ratings fell 14% and viewership 12% from 2018, the last time the fall race was run as scheduled (2.2, 3.51M). Last year’s edition was postponed to Monday and averaged 1.54 million.
NBC’s numbers do not include the conclusion of the triple-overtime race, which was bumped to NBCSN and averaged 1.86 million.
Denny Hamlin’s win averaged a lower rating and fewer viewers than the ‘spring’ race at Talladega in June — a Monday make-up on FOX (2.1, 3.33M). Keep in mind that race generated unusual national media attention.
Even with the historic low, the race held up reasonably well in a year of across-the-board declines for sports TV. It outdrew every game of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and every game of the MLB Postseason through Thursday.
The Xfinity Series race at Talladega averaged a 0.51 and 816,000 on NBCSN Saturday. There was no fall Xfinity race there last year.
In other racing action, IndyCar’s doubleheader at Indianapolis Motor Speedway averaged a 0.14 and 221,000 on USA Network last Friday and a 0.37 and 566,000 on the NBC broadcast network last Saturday. Aided by an NFL lead-in, the Red Bull Signature Series averaged a robust 0.9 and 1.70 million on Sunday — actually topping NASCAR in adults 18-49 (714K to 590K).
