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