The 2023 NASCAR season is underway and it is bound to be very exciting in the second year of the NextGen car. 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.
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. You will find all of your NASCAR ratings coverage at Sportsnaut.
Bookmark this page for NASCAR ratings as another year of racing is officially underway!
NASCAR ratings: Kansas sees slight increase from last season
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas averaged 2.352 million average viewers on FS1 last weekend. The event was up 0.01% compared to last year at 2.337 million average viewers on FS1.
This marks the fourth straight week that NASCAR has been up in viewership. The start of the season was rough but things have really started to turn around as of late. It will still take quite a recovery to be up compared to last season overall.
In fact, the last four weeks prove that it is not simply a TV problem. If people want to watch a race, they will tune in to see the action. Hopefully, this represents the start of a turnaround for the long haul.
Related: NASCAR power rankings during the 2023 season
NASCAR ratings: Cup viewership totals and analysis in 2023
| Race | Track | Viewership | Up/Down | Notes |
| #12 | Kansas Speedway | 2.352 million | Up (4) 0.01% | N/A |
| #11 | Dover Motor Speedway | 1.067 million | Up (3) 13.0% | Both 2022 and 2023 were postponed to Monday on FS1 |
| #10 | Talladega Superspeedway | 4.554 million | Up (2) 5.0% | Reported number of 4.682 million was adjusted to 4.336 million for 2022 |
| #9 | Martinsville Speedway | 2.218 million | Up (1) 17.7% | 2022 on Saturday night, 2023 on Sunday afternoon |
| #8 | Bristol Dirt | 3.450 million | Down (9) 13.9% | N/A |
| #7 | Richmond Raceway | 2.303 million | Down (8) 41.8% | 2022 on FOX, 2023 on FS1. The race was down 11.9% compared to the first Sunday race on FS1 last season |
| #6 | Circuit of the Americas | 3.129 million | Down (7) 16.1% | N/A |
| #5 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 3.422 million | Down (6) 14.5% | N/A |
| #4 | Phoenix Raceway | 3.389 million | Down (5) 15.1% | N/A |
| #3 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 3.991 million | Down (4) 12.2% | N/A |
| #2 | Auto Club Speedway | 4.315 million | Down (3): 5.6% | Share up 9%, largest for Race #2 since 2017 |
| #1 | 2023 Daytona 500 | 8.181 million | Down (2): 7.7% | Share up 2%, largest for Daytona 500 since 2016 |
| N/A | Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum | 3.647 million | Down (1): 14.8% | Second most-watched non-points race since 2016 |
What are the NASCAR ratings for the 2022 season?
The NASCAR ratings for the 2022 season are the best they have been in four years. Overall, NASCAR brought in 114.231 million average viewers throughout the entire 2022 season which marks its best since the 2018 season (120.454 million average viewers). It was a successful year as the sport averaged over three million average viewers per race.
Related: NASCAR ratings on big rise compared to recent years in 2022
Are NASCAR ratings on the rise or decline?
NASCAR ratings have been on the decline over the last decade as they have taken a significant drop. It has been a challenge for the sport to consistently grab the attention of its audience; however, there are reasons for optimism as the 2022 season represented a step in the right direction. NASCAR sits on an upward trajectory for the first time in a while.
Why is NASCAR’s popularity down?
NASCAR’s popularity is down and the ratings reflect it. The sport mishandled the on-track racing by introducing the 550 horsepower package which caused the fanbase to lose trust. However, NASCAR has been taking major strides as the on-track product is improving, the schedule is being changed, bold decisions are being made, and communication between each party is better.