This year, the NASCAR Cup Series TV ratings declined by 14 percent for the 2025 season, a development anticipated as several races transitioned from major broadcast networks to cable channels and streaming platforms. With a majority of races no longer on traditional television, NASCAR Cup Series fans saw these changes take effect across the sport’s media landscape.
Viewer Decline and Anticipated Changes
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps addressed the ratings downturn during his annual state of the sport press conference, noting the move toward cable and streaming had been part of the organization’s planning.
“When the season started, because of the distribution changes to be less broadcast heavy and more cable heavy and streaming, we knew we were going to have a reset,”
Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner.
“We had projected that that reset and told everyone in our industry that reset would be between 14 percent and 15 percent in Cup,”
Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner.
The significant broadcast shift meant viewers needed access to various platforms beyond network TV, including cable and Prime Sports, Amazon’s streaming service, which aired five mid-season races. Despite the ratings drop, the leadership team expressed confidence that the numbers were within reason, aligning closely with prior internal forecasts.
Prime Sports and Broadcaster Performance
Phelps highlighted the quality of Prime Sports’ coverage, which averaged 2.16 million viewers across its five events, and received positive recognition from NASCAR fans. The entrance of Prime Sports and Turner Sports meant established broadcasters like FOX and NBC now shared the calendar with these new partners.
“Amazon’s production was tremendous. Turner Sports was tremendous. NBC already had a high bar, right? The Turner numbers were slightly softer than we thought they would be, slightly, but in line with the projections,”
Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner.
Although Turner Sports’ viewer numbers fell marginally short of internal hopes, they met the expectations conveyed at the season’s outset. The collaboration among traditional and new broadcast partners was seen as a collective step up in production and reach.
Comparing NASCAR’s Position Among Auto Racing Events
The conclusion of the 2025 season provided a view into how NASCAR Cup Series measured up to other prominent auto racing series in terms of TV audiences. According to a summary shared on November 5, 2025, NASCAR Cup Series hosted 38 events that each attracted more than one million viewers, leading all major racing competitions.
With the NASCAR season now over, here is a current list of 2025 Auto Racing events ranked by the average number of US Television viewers:
# of series events over 1 million viewers: NASCAR Cup: 38 NASCAR Xfinity: 21 F1:17 IndyCar: 5NHRA: 2ARCA: 1 pic.twitter.com/uMvbLreNZB
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) November 5, 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series followed with 21, while Formula 1 counted 17, and IndyCar totaled 5. Even with the broadcast-related reduction in TV ratings, the NASCAR Cup Series still ranked at the top among US-based auto racing events in terms of sizable viewing audiences.
Looking Ahead: Stability and Growth in a Shifting Media Landscape
Despite a noticeable dip in ratings, industry leaders remain positive about the NASCAR Cup Series’ future amid changing audience habits and platform choices. The steady performance of new broadcast partners and ongoing adaptation to streaming trends supports optimism for future stability and growth. The 2025 season may mark a transitional period, but the Cup Series continues to demonstrate strong appeal among racing enthusiasts and remains a central fixture in the world of American motorsport.
With the NASCAR season now over, here is a current list of 2025 Auto Racing events ranked by the average number of US Television viewers:
# of series events over 1 million viewers:
NASCAR Cup: 38
NASCAR Xfinity: 21
F1:17
IndyCar: 5
NHRA: 2
ARCA: 1 pic.twitter.com/uMvbLreNZB— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) November 5, 2025
