Change may be coming to Richmond Raceway, and the reactions are not simple. Some words have created new questions, while others only deepen the mystery. For a track with such a long place in NASCAR Cup Series history, even the smallest shift can feel larger than expected. The future is not written yet, but the talk around it is already causing debate. Whether this moment is an ending or only a pause remains unclear.
Key Highlights
Richmond Cup race earned a 0.75 rating and 1.4 million viewers on USA Network.
Last year’s Richmond race delivered a 1.2 rating and 2.2 million viewers.
Saturday night scheduling and high school football likely impacted TV numbers.
83.1 percent of more than 23,000 fans polled enjoyed the Richmond race.
Daytona weekend features Cup and Xfinity Series races with playoff implications.
Richmond Ratings Analysis
Per Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond on USA Network drew a 0.75 rating and 1.4 million viewers. The numbers marked a steep decline from 2024, when the same race delivered a 1.2 rating and 2.2 million viewers. Stern pointed to scheduling as a significant factor, with last year’s race held on a Sunday rather than Saturday night.
Historically, Sunday afternoon races tend to draw stronger television audiences compared to primetime Saturday events. Another element likely at play was the start of high school football across different regions of the country. Fans attending games instead of watching from home could have played a role in the lower viewership. Despite the drop, those who tuned in offered a positive assessment of the on-track product.
Fan Response to the Race
While the ratings were down, the fan reception told a different story. Jeff Gluck of The Athletic ran his weekly “Was it a good race?” poll on social media, gathering feedback from over 23,000 respondents. An overwhelming 83.1 percent of those who voted said the Richmond race was a good one.
The strong approval rating from fans highlighted how television numbers do not always reflect satisfaction with the racing itself. Richmond Raceway’s reputation as a short track that can deliver both strategy and side-by-side competition held true for those who tuned in. It also reinforced that while ratings can fluctuate due to scheduling and outside competition, the on-track product remains an essential driver of fan loyalty.
Daytona Weekend on the Horizon
With Richmond in the books, NASCAR’s focus shifts to Daytona International Speedway for one of the most pivotal weekends of the year. The Florida heat and the unpredictability of superspeedway racing combine to create high-stakes drama, with playoff spots on the line in the Cup Series and crowded entry lists in the Xfinity Series. Friday, August 22, kicks off with NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying at 3:00 p.m. ET, followed by Cup Series qualifying at 5:05 p.m. ET.
The Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola will then take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW. On Saturday, August 23, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will headline the weekend, airing at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. This event serves as the regular season finale for the Cup Series, officially locking in the playoff field. The entry list features 40 cars, including Austin Hill making his third Cup start of the year in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 car. With everything on the line, Daytona is poised to deliver one of the most dramatic events of the season.
Balancing Ratings and Racing
The decline in Richmond’s ratings underscores an ongoing challenge for NASCAR: balancing broadcast schedules with the realities of competition for viewers. Saturday night races can deliver unique energy at the track, but they often face stiff competition from other activities, particularly in the late summer. Still, the fact that a strong majority of fans who watched rated the Richmond race positively shows the product remains compelling.
For NASCAR, maintaining momentum now hinges on Daytona, where superspeedway unpredictability combined with playoff stakes typically brings a spike in attention. The contrast between Richmond’s numbers and Daytona’s potential highlights the delicate balance between audience size and fan satisfaction that defines the sport’s modern landscape.
News in Brief: NASCAR Fans Say Goodbye to Richmond
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond earned a 0.75 rating and 1.4 million viewers on USA Network, a sharp drop from last year’s 1.2 rating and 2.2 million viewers. Scheduling changes and the start of high school football were noted as likely reasons. Despite the lower ratings, Jeff Gluck’s fan poll found that 83.1 percent of more than 23,000 voters said the race was good. NASCAR now shifts to Daytona International Speedway for a weekend featuring the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 and the Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400.
ALSO READ: The 2024 Richmond Raceway NASCAR Race: Controversy and Drama Unleashed
