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NASCAR TV ratings decline amid changes to championship format in 2026

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 13, 2026, 11:30 AM

Last updated Nov 13, 2026

NASCAR TV ratings decline amid changes to championship format in 2026

Summary

NASCAR's 2026 Cup Series season concluded with a 2% drop in average viewership, totaling 2.419 million per race. The season finale at Homestead-Miami attracted 2.471 million viewers, down from last year's 2.774 million at Phoenix. Despite the return of The Chase format, intended to enhance consistency, it has not significantly improved ratings. The Daytona 500 remained the standout event with 7.489 million viewers. However, ongoing challenges remain in maintaining audience interest throughout the season, particularly for races broadcast on cable, many of which struggled to reach 1.5 million viewers.

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Key Details

•Average viewership dropped from 2.479 million in 2025 to 2.419 million in 2026.
•The Daytona 500 attracted 7.489 million viewers, up from 6.761 million last year.
•The 10 Chase races averaged 1.789 million viewers, down from 1.866 million in 2025.
•Cable broadcasts faced challenges, with many races below 1.5 million viewers.
•NASCAR aims to engage fans with the revised championship format introduced in 2026.

Latest Updates

11:30 AMYahoo Sports — NASCAR TV Ratings 2026: What the Numbers Reveal About the New Chase Format

What they're saying

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NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series season ended with a decline in television viewership, raising questions about whether the sport’s latest championship […]
— Yahoo Sports

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