NASCAR has reduced fans and viewership over the years. NASCAR has been trying to revive the dip in viewership by implementing new changes as well as reviving some old tracks. Last year NASCAR launched its Netflix series to boost its viewership. However, the dip contained after the COVID-19 pandemic and yet again on Easter weekend, NASCAR once again had a blow in its viewership compared to last year.
NASCAR’s Easter weekend
.@FoxTV got 3.310 million viewers for Sunday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond; last year's spring race was on FS1 so there's no direct YOY comparison.
🔲 The 2022 spring event was on Fox and that race drew 3.958 million. pic.twitter.com/W3uDE3DnPn
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 2, 2024
During Sunday night’s Toyota Owners 400 Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, Fox garnered an audience of 3.310 million viewers, as reported by Adam Stern from the Sports Business Journal1. Comparatively, last year’s Cup race on Easter at the Bristol dirt track attracted 3.5 million viewers.
Formula 1’s Netflix series “Drive to Survive” has proven to be a massive hit, attracting a large fan base and boosting interest in the sport. NASCAR has also launched its own documentary series, but unfortunately, the decline in viewership persists. Despite efforts to create compelling content and capture the attention of fans.
How does the NASCAR Documentary perform?
The investment by NASCAR, reportedly exceeding $5 million, and the involvement of producers like retired legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. paid off handsomely. In its debut week, Full Speed raced its way into the top 10 Netflix shows in the United States1. Notably, it cracked the top five most-watched list for both the U.S. (#5) and Canada (#3) within a mere 48 hours of release.
But does Full Speed share the same impact on NASCAR’s viewership as Drive To Survive had on Formula 1? Departing from previous trends, NASCAR’s viewership this season has been on the rise. The last several Cup races in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Phoenix witnessed increased viewership compared to their 2023 editions. For instance, the recent Cup Series race in Phoenix, the Shriners Children’s 500, saw an impressive 19% increase in numbers compared to last season.
READ MORE: Denny Hamlin Shuts Up a Troll
