Daytona 500 ratings history (1979-present)

NASCAR Daytona 500 ratings and viewership dating back to 1979, the first year the race was televised in full. The rain-delayed 2021 Daytona 500 had a 2.8 rating and 4.83 million viewers, marking the lowest rated and least-watched edition of the race. As recently as 2013, when Danica Patrick competed in the race for the first time, the 500 had a 9.9 and 16.7 million.

Daytona 500 ratings, viewership

1979-2004 numbers from Sports Business Daily 2.16.2005

Year Winner Net Rtg Vwrs
2023 Stenhouse Jr. FOX 4.4 8.173M
2022 Cindric FOX 4.7 8.868M
2021 McDowell FOX 2.8 4.908M
2020* Hamlin FOX 4.4 7.330M
2019 Hamlin FOX 5.3 9.170M
2018 Dillon FOX 5.3 9.297M
2017 Ku. Busch FOX 6.6 11.922M
2016 Hamlin FOX 6.6 11.357M
2015 Logano FOX 7.7 13.363M
2014 Dale Jr. FOX 5.6 9.300M
2013 Johnson FOX 9.9 16.651M
2012* Kenseth FOX 8.0 13.669M
2011 Bayne FOX 8.7 15.597M
2010 McMurray FOX 7.7 13.294M
2009 Kenseth FOX 9.2 15.954M
2008 Newman FOX 10.2 17.752M
2007 Harvick FOX 10.1 17.532M
2006 Johnson NBC 11.3 19.355M
2005 Gordon FOX 10.9 18.685M
2004 Dale Jr. NBC 10.6 17.796M
2003 Waltrip FOX 9.8 16.835M
2002 Burton NBC 10.9 18.780M
2001 Waltrip FOX 10.0 17.081M
2000 Jarrett CBS 8.4 12.936M
1999 Gordon CBS 9.6 14.518M
1998 Earnhardt CBS 8.6 13.044M
1997 Gordon CBS 8.6 12.833M
1996 Jarrett CBS 9.2 13.918M
1995 Marlin CBS 7.8 11.444M
1994 Marlin CBS 9.6 13.577M
1993 Jarrett CBS 8.4 12.705M
1992 Allison CBS 9.3 13.410M
1991 Irvan CBS 7.6 10.920M
1990 Cope CBS 7.3 10.520M
1989 Waltrip CBS 8.1 12.000M
1988 Allison CBS 7.4 10.040M
1987 Elliott CBS 9.4 12.420M
1986 Bodine CBS 8.4 10.260M
1985 Elliott CBS 8.3 9.790M
1984 Yarborough CBS 8.7 12.320M
1983 Yarborough CBS 8.7 11.000M
1982 Allison CBS 9.4 11.840M
1981 Petty CBS 8.4 11.220M
1980 Baker CBS 8.0 10.800M
1979 Petty CBS 10.5 15.140M

 

* Asterisk indicates race was postponed to Monday.

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