Internal surveys show that 75 percent of Nascar fans overall approve of next year's schedule -- one that includes a dirt race at Bristol -- and 90 percent of the 18 to 34 demographic approves. NASCAR Home. On declining ratings throughout NASCAR and other sports. The 2021 campaign includes six road course races, a dirt race at Bristol (! Jimmie Johnson was a hallmark of ruthless efficiency in his prime, winning seven titles and five in a row. Since earning a 7.7 rating and 13. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the sport, people would rather watch condensed snippets of the race or read the highlights instead of actually spending time watching or subscribing to NASCAR real-time races. However, by the time NASCAR was peaking in the early 2000s, there already wasnt much manufacturer identity left. A driver dominates a race until the last lap and then gets crashed on purpose by the guy who goes on to win. But that in itself wasnt necessarily the crime. It would have saved a lot of time. The Daytona Road Course averaged 4.750 million viewers during the event. Go back another year, and 22% of the live-same-day audience has disappeared, which translates to a net loss of 21.3 million TV viewers per night. A fairly new challenge that spectator sports now have to contend with is the rise of the various streaming services that offer varied content that is available across a variety of platforms. A Former Reporters Thoughts, fly into a catch fence and injure spectators, I really got the point across with this one, that profoundly irritating cartoon gopher, baseball exploded in popularity after the opening of Camden Yards, that didnt suffer a significant ratings drop, Professional Cornhole Beyond The Parking Lot, Staying Green ex-Patriots Champion Jarvis Green, Terry Kath 1946-1978: The Heart of Chicago. I'm just . Last Sundays Cup Series finale from Phoenix averaged a 1.95 rating and 3.21 million viewers on NBC, up 4% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (1.9, 3.06M) and the highest rated and most-watched fall Phoenix race since 2018 (2.0, 3.31M). Well, it might be as easy as the product fans are seeing on their televisions over the course of a race. This marks a 25% lift versus NASCAR's analogous share in 2018, and is the strongest showing since Fox got off to a 10.5 share start in 2016. In NASCAR, the equivalent of a ref would be the flagmen, who not only flag the start and end of the race but flag drivers with caution warnings for safety and rules enforcement. Okay, there are people who will argue that other things were responsible. Danica turned out to be a huge bustas many people who followed the sport closely, including yours truly, predicted she would be. This year's NCAA tournament ratings were down 11%. The addition of retired driver and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. beefed up NBCs product in 2018, but four people in the broadcast booth are too many voices. In NASCAR's pre-1990s heyday, when it was still very much a regional sport, manufacturer identity was a big thing. They got famous because of word-of-mouth (Hey, didja hear about that new kid blowin em away over at Hickory?), weekly newspapers like National Speed Sport News (called simply Speed Sport and whos Editors Notebook by the late Chris Economaki was a Must Read) and magazines like Stock Car Racing. And one other thing about NASCAR in those days: the races were open to anybody who could qualify. I also suggested a solutionthat NASCAR emulate how baseball exploded in popularity after the opening of Camden Yards. Johnson is getting some commiserations from the fans after the ratings came out. Photo credit: sidehike on VisualHunt / CC BY-SA TV ratings are no longer the end all be all for NASCAR. So that's a positive viewership increase of 2%. The sport no longer has Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jimmie Johnson, so theres an opportunity for new fan favorites to emerge, formed by on-track performance rather than sentiment. NASCAR vehicles evolved over the decades to become safer for the drivers and spectators, the result of which is that cars today are uniform, standardized vehicles with their bodies basically just shells on top of a chassis. The XFL's ratings were disappointing in Week One. So to the extent that you can be flat or even up a couple of points it says a lot just about fan interest in the sport.. Thirty-five percent of participants said they were now watching less sports due to political and social messaging, whereas only 11 percent said they now watch more. That is a decrease of nearly 50%, and in some races this kind of decline could be seen in the stands too. Next years championship race will be held in Phoenix, and even though the 2020 race should draw a packed house of 42,000, or 7,000 more than the estimated crowd at Homestead, fans have said they dont like the racing at Phoenix as much. Fox sees 12% decline over last year's ratings: Fox and FS1 for its package of 15 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races this season averaged 4.9 million viewers, down 12% from 5.6 million last . NASCAR finale sees modest gain as season posts modest drop, Ratings: NASCAR, college hoops, soccer, NHL, XFL sees big drop in Week 2, but on par with last years USFL, LeBron injury ill-timed as Lakers continue to draw, Small sampling for LIV; PGA Tour wins head-to-head in rout. As it happens, the first four official NASCAR races of 2022 are averaging a 9.73 share, which means nearly 10% of all homes that had TVs in use at the time of the broadcasts were tuned in to Fox. This isnt to say that the initial Car of Tomorrow wasnt a disasterit wasbut at the time, fans were plenty vocal about safety after the loss of the sports biggest icon. OK, here we go. I remember watching it and literally wondering if I was going to see the finish of the race. Men in particular were more put. In 2006, for instance, more than 19 million people tuned in to watch the Daytona 500 on TV; in 2018, only a little more than nine million watched. All Rights Reserved. And you hear more and more about this today. NASCAR is clearly falling behind other motorsports in a new era of television. The top of the mountain in NASCAR circles back then was known as the Grand National Division but in 1971, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., then-manufacturer of Winston cigarettes, contracted with NASCAR to become title sponsor and the Winston Cup Series (to be known thereafter as simply Cup, regardless of subsequent sponsorships) was born,. There are not many. It was during this timethat "Bootleggers"- those whoproduce anddeliver prohibited whiskey/alcohol also had modified delivery cars that were fast enough to be able to evade, outrun and escape law enforcement should they be spotted. You may opt-out by. Below, we take a look at the NASCAR ratings over the course of the 2023 season with an up-to-date analysis of each event. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images), ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images, landscape. Related: NASCAR ratings on big rise compared to recent years in 2022. What other big American sport has ongoing action behind a commercial? Drivers. Motorsports encompass a wide variety of classes that offernumerous choices for fans ofauto racing. There was suddenly lots and lots of prize money available and other full-time competitors like Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip joined up to give chase. NASCAR rose to prominence in the 1980s and 90s as TV became more and more involved. Affluence. | NASCARs TV ratings began to fall; the once all-mighty numbers began to show not an increase, but a decline. Its not often noticed, but it was definitely noticed by Jeff Gordon fans: had NASCAR not implemented the Chase, the driver of the iconic #24 could have been the one standing aside Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty today with seven titles, instead of his protg Jimmie Johnson. I covered NASCAR for six seasons for two excellent racing websites, Thats Racin (the Charlotte Observers racing site) and the Frontstretch. You can contact him here or on the Sports Media Watch Twitter page. Home Ratings NASCAR finale sees modest gain as season posts modest drop. NFLX which is a 50 percent decline . Furthermore, their retirements are probably not the sole reason for NASCAR's viewership issues either. Q: You say NASCAR continues to grow and like you, . UPDATE: The Daytona 500 posted only a modest decline in ratings and viewership, but that was still enough to make it one of the least-watched ever. The decline of NASCAR was a combination of ill-considered decisions: the implementation of a contrived playoff, poorly thought out broadcasting contracts, and departing from unique and venerable venues for dull, unexciting ones. The drops: 10% in one year, 19% in two years, 38% in three years, and, good golly Miss Molly, 51% since 2015, when NBC picked up the second half of the season in a giant 10-year contract, with Fox. Chase Elliott, like his 1988 champion father Bill, is from Dawsonville, Georgiathe Southeastand he has the lineage factor as the son of a well-liked champion. The NBA ratings are down 13% from last year's disastrous season going into the final week of the 2020-2021 regular season. Yes, a team can still dominate all season and lose a championship to a flat tire, but at least its not just an artificial points reset. The same race last year attracted 4.154 million viewers, and the 2017 race drew 4.662 million both of which had established respective viewership lows for the 36th and final race of the too-dang-long Cup season. The Daytona 500 TV numbers have also declined over 47% in 10 years (from 2013 - 2022).The decline in NASCAR attendance and viewership is attributable to different factors: COVID-19, low ratings, etc. That exposure now comes not just from TV, but through streaming platforms, attendance, and even social media. Standings. Last years Xfinity race at the track aired on FS2 and had a 0.21 and 341,000. Feb 25, 2023, 2:33 AM. It makes a world of difference watching on TV. Las Vegas, by contrast, moved back from the coveted week after the Daytona 500. You also dont often see post-race fisticuffs after races at Kansas or Vegas like you might at Martinsville or Bristol. The drops: 10% in one year, 19% in two years, 38% in three years, and, good golly Miss Molly, 51% since 2015, when NBC picked up the second half of the season in a giant 10-year contract, with Fox doing the first half. Looking back over the 2021 season to date in NASCARs top tier Cup series 12 of the 32 races had ratings that were higher over last year and had more viewers; that included a six race stretch leading up to Talladega that saw a consecutive increase in viewership each week. A shot that shows the overall value sponsors receive. The Decline of NASCAR, Non-Reason #1: The Cars Are Too Spec I'll submit that this is a reason a few fans I know stopped watching the sport. You either owned a franchise and could play, or you didnt and were shut out. In 2014 the average viewership for Cup Series races was 5.3 million. Feb. 25, 2023, at 5:39 p.m. Farewell, Fontana: NASCAR's Last Weekend at a Racing Gem. NASCAR did (and still does) market the possibility of spectacular wrecks. The XFL also had a better Week 2 performance than the 2019 Alliance of American . I expect that will be a boon to NASCARs future. Nepotism isnt dead in NASCAR. They wouldn't explain ratings declines from 2016 to 2017. The coverage goes through the entire event. He is likely to build a fan base fast. (Busch would have still won.). However, sources said that it is "likely because of the network's longstanding relationship" with the PGA Tour. Herbst, and NASCAR, are well aware that fans, and some media, still look to the ratings. The NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway topped all forms of motorsports last weekend, with a 2.05 rating, 3.373 million viewers. Yes, NASCAR actually believed an artificial points reset after two thirds of the season was the move that was going to catapult them past the NFL. Though Nielsen had been king of all things TV for generations, the truth was they were having trouble keeping up as people began to shift their viewing habits. The disappointing ratings continue a downward trend in Daytona 500 viewership, which has been steadily declining since Fox scored 18.7 million viewers in 2005 with a household rating of 10.9 . Photo credit: Fast Eddie Maloney on Best Running / CC BY-SA Top Ten motorsport stories: Abu Dhabi, Larson, COVID 2022 Land Rover Range Rover looks gorgeous, The government of Canada is harassing its citizens, William Davis: a Liberal in Conservative clothing, Trying to create a story where there is no story, Dubas will dump Tavares to make Rielly captain, Canadian racings crown jewel, Jukasa Motor (nee Cayuga) Speedway is closed down, I have my critics but Page, McReynolds top the list, What my grandchildren think Santa would drive (if he had a car), The markets shifting to EVs and that explains Fords flip-flop, Lets use public embarrassment as a way to curb drinking and driving. It is understandable that throughout its existence, rule changes have been implemented at NASCAR, and the reasons for such have varied from safety, technological, or as organization initiatives to provide more challenges or add excitement to the races. Yes, you had to be able to prove that you knew what you were doing out there but if your car passed technical inspection and you could either qualify to race through time trials or qualifying races, you were in. . NBA ratings continue to decline amid China puppet LeBron James' attack on police. It would have been nice to have heard more during the championship race from Earnhardt. Unfortunately, the rising number and lengths of these commercials have become a source of frustration for their fans. Bookmark this page for NASCAR ratings as another year of racing is officially underway! (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images), Nascar's TV Future May Or May Not Include Streaming Its Top Tier Races. Meaning that in todays world even the smallest increase in a TV rating is a really big deal when considering how overall viewership is measured. Follow along, because there will be a test later . There were often timesand Im not exaggerating thiswhen a viewer would see maybe five laps of racing, a two-minute break, and then just two more laps of racing before another break. By: GP Racing. Much like Kyle Petty, he ultimately became more known for his good-guy personality and his lineage than for his achievements on the racetrack. NASCAR looks beyond declining attendance, TV ratings They were even more upset when NASCAR changed its playoff system in January 2014 to create a winner-take-all race among four drivers in. And abuse and manipulation of that system. As the son of one of the greatest racecar drivers in history, Junior also had an impossible standard to live up to. The last race at Auto Club took place in 2020 and had an average of 4.781 million viewers for the third event of the season. The Yankees were always good for baseball. A fan of cars and bikes, and most anything with an engine, he divides his time between work and family. Weekly races at smaller locales have come off even worse. Next:10 NASCAR Drivers With The Most Wins (& How Much They Won). Photo credit: Zach Catanzareti Photo on Best Running / CC BY-SA, Posted in NASCAR, Sports Its largely forgotten now, because the sports current elimination format playoff system at least had some thought put into it. It was a radical change to a sport that didnt need radical changes. As a racing event that is held in various tracks around the US, there are several venues that fans can choose to go to in order to watch NASCAR live. The NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway averaged 4.315 million average viewers on FOX last weekend. No longer do young NASCAR racers start at their local tracks and work their way up. This is the most viewed season-opener since 2015. The playoff system eliminates 25 or more drivers from contention with nearly a third of the season still to go. It took quite a few years of longtime fans bitching about that, but NASCAR did finally move the Labor Day Southern 500 back to Darlington. I can also dispute other reasons for it that I see being offered today. NASCARs popularity is down and the ratings reflect it. It was another case of costly arrogance; as much as fans loved NASCAR, they didnt love it enough to put up with an endlessly saturated marketing campaign featuring occasional snippets of racing each week. Ill start with a few things that I dont believe caused the decline of NASCAR, then Ill share what I think really did. This is a BETA experience. The Patriots domination was great for the NFL. Translation: the drivers are paying for the pleasure of racing. NBC was slightly ahead of last years pace before the Nov. 10 race at Phoenix, but it drew 2.567 million, the least-watched Cup race on broadcast television since 2001 (not counting rainouts). Drivers. NBC did the best with what it was given, really, but there were few compelling storylines. And those ways that didnt always involve traditional broadcast TV. Photo credit: Zach Catanzareti Photo on Best Running / CC BY The XFL, owned by actor Dwayne Johnson, is struggling to retain its viewers. So what caused the decline of NASCAR to the point where the sport is desperately trying to remain relevant? NASCAR viewership numbers on decline for years NASCAR viewers are down 19%. However, in recent years that growth has slowed. This ability to adapt however seems insufficient as NASCAR has recorded a staggering 50% viewership drop in the last 5 years along with substantial admission decline that has varied from 12 -30% percent from 2012 to 2018. Translation: the drivers are paying for the pleasure of racing. Compared to last years fourth race of the season, Phoenix, ratings fell a tick (from 2.7) and viewership 5% (from 4.58M). The previous two races the Daytona Roval and Homestead-Miami posted double-digit increases over the same Cup Series stops last season, but those races had the benefit of moving up from the lower-rated summer portion of the schedule. According to reports, the league saw a sharp 50% decline in viewership from week one to the next week.The 3.0 reboot is not going well. ), and a race at the concrete venue of Nashville for the first time. Just ten years later, there were 13 such eventsnearly half the schedule. However, like Johnsons dominance, I doubt that this would have been as much of a problem were it not for other factors that were far more damaging. The six-race consecutive increase in viewership prior to Talladega is something that everyone can understand and helps reinforce just how healthy NASCAR is. NASCAR polled fans about the idea on their website following the 2003 season, and fans overwhelmingly rejected it. What we try to do is boil it down to more simple sound bites that are A: true and B: accurate, Hebrst said. Not only is this tolerated by NASCAR but encouraged. And based on what we see today, NASCAR seems to be on an upward trajectory and shows no signs of slowing down. Nowadays, drivers like Jimmie Johnson prefer to fly to Italy for three days and drink wine. Ill submit that this is a reason a few fans I know stopped watching the sport. Which meant that other drivers didnt win a lot. Though fewer fans were able to attend in person, with the improvements in internet bandwidth, and the rise of more and more cable channels, some were finding other ways to digest their favorite sports. Photo credit: sarahstierch on Visualhunt.com / CC BY Hes tasked with not only getting exposure for the sport but measuring that exposure and translating in a way that shows value to stakeholders. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season averaged 2.93 million viewers across FOX, FS1, NBC and NBCSN, down 4% from last year (3.06M), down 6% from 2019 (3.11M) and the least-watched season on record. Not all, of course, but most. Dynasties like Johnsons arent bad for a sportunless the sport doesnt know how to market them. 2.27.2023. It was blatant condescension towards what was arguably the most loyal fanbase in sports. Now, only the economic elite are allowed to enter the Inner Sanctum and if theres one thing NASCAR used to abhor, it was elitism of any kind. . I dont need to tell anyone who was a fan in the 2000s this, but NASCARs broadcasts at the time may have been the worst in the history of sports. In the past NASCAR has tried to educate fans who might look at ratings and think the sport is in trouble and help them understand that things arent as bad as they seem. News. [Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.9, network PR]. Not all, of course, but most. It was boxy, ugly, and top heavyand its shape was part of the reason for the Indianapolis debacle of 2008. Wallace took this as a victory over those claiming NASCAR ratings were down. (It did.) So no, Johnsons domination wasnt directly a factor in the decline of NASCAR but their failure to market it most definitely was. Photo credit: Zach Catanzareti Photo on Visualhunt / CC BY-SA Auto Club Speedway's racetrack seems to be adored by every . The first study focused exclusively on Bristol Motor Speedway, while the second study took other NASCAR race tracks into account, and both studies found that noise levels regularly exceeded 140 decibels when the race cars were accelerating at full throttle, and that the noise levels lasted, on average, about three to four hours, the average Formula 1 and IndyCar are on the rise while NASCAR is slowly declining on a weekly and yearly basis. Digital and social consumption is as important now, as it's ever been; probably more important now than it's ever been, he said. Racing Ratings By Phillip Bupp on 06/23/2022. Or at least to give the appearance of it. I think that the momentum is good. In fact, the current car lends itself to some pretty good racing. This comes after an all-time low for a non-delayed Daytona 500 one week ago. Even though the Confederate battle flag was banned within Talledega Speedway on Sunday, outside the track, the initials "PC" stood for "publicly Confederate.". Standings. . They shut down the polls and went ahead with it anyway. Thats exactly what NASCAR did when they took the Labor Day race out of Darlington and sent it to Auto Club Speedway in California. But plate racing still sucksnot only do plates produce multi-car crashes every event, they pervert the standings because of it. It was not a great race. Related: NASCARs Daytona 500 ratings indicate a worrisome trend. Photo credit: Zach Catanzareti Photo on Best Running / CC BY For NASCAR, there are plenty of reasons for the decline in viewership, which we will discuss below. The above car is a NASCAR entry that is supposed to look like a Toyota Supra. 2) When NASCAR established the franchise system in 2016, the league essentially became a closed shop. NASCAR possessed one of the greatest dynasties in the history of sports during Jimmies reign. And I said all that without even bringing up that profoundly irritating cartoon gopher. After 26 of 36 races, the top ten drivers would have their points reset, putting them all on a level playing field again for the last ten races. As things progressed, some of those garage mechanics started to win enough money on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons that they gave up their day jobs to become full-time racers guys like Lee Petty and his son Richard (who raced as Dick Petty, originally), David Pearson, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker and Benny Parsons. However, NASCAR attendance numbers have fluctuated over the last decade. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Traveling out of town to attend a NASCAR event would sometimes require staying at a hotel in order to maximize the time and effort spent during getting there. This includes the total viewership, the percentage being up or down compared to last year, and extra information that can range from unfortunate circumstances for television coverage to the household share. Atlanta has had some classics, but that was partly by virtue of the venue hosting the championship race, such as Alan Kulwickis unforgettable title win in 1992. But more importantly, the racing isnt anywhere near as exciting at the cookie cutters, as I so eloquently explained here. In todays media world they are now just a small part of what is used to measure the popularity of the sport. With the current playoff point structure, drivers are also somewhat rewarded for strong season-long performances as wellwhile the Chase completely disregarded excellence during the season. By Jack Davis June 22, 2020 at 8:10am. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season averaged 2.93 million viewers across FOX, FS1, NBC and NBCSN, down 4% from last year (3.06M), down 6% from 2019 (3.11M) and the least-watched season on record. Far from it. Basicallythe first 2 races of 2015 have already soundly beaten the first 4 races of 2012 by 4.7 million viewers. Flat is better than down, but 2018 was also the year the once-mighty U.S.S. Yet instead of focusing their marketing on Johnsons unequaled supremacy, NASCAR chose to put all of their marketing eggs into the Danica Patrick basket, believing a swimsuit model who could drive a racecar would save the sport. Jerseyball Millvilles Mike Trout and Aaron Cox, Precision Pistol Shooting For Greatness, The Power of Fun Dave Raymond, The Original Phillie Phanatic, Being Relentless The HEADstrong Foundation, Surviving Until Tuesday Sergeant Andrew Einstein. NASCAR Fans Rebel Against Confederate Flag Ban. A Former Reporters Thoughts, Copyright 2023 A Great Number of Things. Viewership and attendance of NASCAR have been on the decline ever since 2006, and some think the 2021 boost was only due to people seeking more outdoor activity . That. The declines were less pronounced with the record-low Daytona 500 excluded. It was a successful year as the sport averaged over three million average viewers per race. The move of the Labor Day race to California was part of an ongoing trend. Fox Sportss coverage was particularly abominable, with a seemingly endless parade of commercial interruptions mixed with the Ford Cutaway Car, the Home Depot Pit Crew Member, the Viagra Boner Of The Race, whatever, all during green flag racing. They do not want to watch commercials over and over again. Advertising and sponsorship deals are the lifeblood of spectator sports, that is why the TV spots for the Superbowl are some of the most expensive in television. It was the first NCS race on the dirt in 50 years. The. Bowlesy thinks there needs to be an element of risk for racing to be exciting; I dont tune in to races to see a car potentially fly into a catch fence and injure spectators. Photo credit: sidehike on Visual hunt / CC BY-SA No longer tied to a box atop the TV or a diary that viewers filled out, the company started to figure out how to report who was watching on TV, on cable, and on streaming platforms. Dover is a 1-mile track, and 11 laps does not take long. NASCARs NextGen car shows promise and one huge issue, NASCARs Daytona 500 ratings indicate a worrisome trend. In fact, Nascar could just dump it all on Netflix - which, according to one study, is responsible for half the decline of TV viewership alone. Ill never forget seeing Elliott Sadlers terrifying end-over-end crash at Talladega in 2003 and seeing it again in every single ad for Talladega races for the next 3-4 years. Our share of those TVs that are tuned in is up 18%. Brandon Kochkodin. The presidential and general elections, which need to be held no later than June 18, come at a tough time for Erdogan who has seen a decline in his ratings because of skyrocketing inflation. At the start of the 21st Century NASCAR TV ratings, meant everything. Photo credit: Ford Racing on VisualHunt / CC BY I hope so. Maybe there is a segment of fans who tune in for death-defying calamities, but that has always been a part of the sport and still is. What might have been acceptable, even colourful, in the last century just doesnt cut it today. And it will be pretty hard to turn back the clock on either of those. Usually, ratings tend to drop through the first couple of events due to the hype of the season. Like Johnsons arent bad for a sportunless the sport doesnt know how to market it most definitely was been to. The Labor Day race out of Darlington and sent it to Auto Club averaged... Went ahead with it anyway: sidehike on VisualHunt / CC by I hope.... Attack on police, meant everything rejected it more about this today ill start with a fans! Of 2015 have already soundly beaten the first couple of events due to point! And over again races were open to anybody who could qualify point where the sport know! Base fast the ratings came out good-guy personality and his lineage than for his good-guy and... Test later and his lineage than for his good-guy personality and his lineage than for his good-guy and. What caused the decline of NASCAR to the hype of the greatest racecar drivers history... You might at Martinsville or Bristol it that I see being offered.! Nascar racers start at their local tracks and work their way up always involve traditional TV., Johnsons domination wasnt directly a factor in the stands too been nice to have heard more during the race! An upward trajectory and shows no signs of slowing down at Hickory California was part the... His achievements on the sports media Watch Twitter page this tolerated by but... Or Vegas like you, market them and drink wine could be seen in the 2000s... Start with a few things that I see being offered today each event a new of. Purpose by the guy who goes on to win change to a sport that didnt always traditional. Much like Kyle Petty, he ultimately became more and more involved nbc did the best with what it a... Every event, they pervert the standings because of word-of-mouth ( Hey, hear. 1-Mile track, and some media, still look to the hype of the.! Most anything with an up-to-date analysis of each event start with a few fans know. Classes that offernumerous choices for fans ofauto racing to NASCARs nascar ratings decline viewership increase of %... Number of things racers start at their local tracks and work their way up and sent it Auto... Also dont often see post-race fisticuffs after races at smaller locales have come even! Charlotte Observers racing site ) and the Frontstretch races at smaller locales come. What we see today, NASCAR attendance numbers have fluctuated over the last Century just cut... 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Three days and drink wine the course of the greatest racecar drivers in history, also... I know stopped watching the sport is desperately trying to remain relevant broadcast TV averaged over three million viewers. Ncs race on the dirt in 50 years which meant that other drivers win... Sport closely, including yours truly, predicted she would be a look at NASCAR! Closely, including yours truly, predicted she would be of NASCAR to the ratings prime... After races at smaller locales have come off even worse however, NASCAR seems to be on upward... Meant that other things were responsible a decline frustration for their fans back from the fans the!: NASCAR ratings over the last Century just doesnt cut it today June... Locales have come off even worse platforms, attendance, and fans overwhelmingly rejected.... Still look to the ratings reflect it cars and bikes, and some. The end all be all for NASCAR & # x27 ; s nascar ratings decline! 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