nascar ratings decline

But there is a big difference between changing your own spark plugs and battling your way to the front at your local speedway in hopes of catching the attention of a NASCAR car owner and calling up that same NASCAR car owner on the phone and saying two words to him: How much?. I think thats some pretty solid footing.. In 2019, that number had dropped to just 2.92 million. With all the different metrics used to measure a sport these days however, it can be complicated. 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. Gordon wasnt the only driver who turned in a spectacular season-long performance only to have it nullified. So that's a positive viewership increase of 2%. The crowd sold out it's 30% capacity soon after the event was . NASCAR Las Vegas ratings hit a new low. Im not sure why people would think this, although Id actually had some heated debates with Tom Bowles at the Frontstretch about it. NASCARs popularity is down and the ratings reflect it. From F1, Rally, Le Mans, Drifting, or Touring Car championships that are broadcast on TV or via the internet, viewers now have even more access to alternative motorsports events that can offer the same level of adrenaline fueled excitement that NASCAR can provide. Q: You say NASCAR continues to grow and like you, . For instance: The non-stop promotion of Danica Patrick, as if she was the Second Coming (she wasnt), turned off a lot of fans. 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. [Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.9, network PR]. 2.27.2023. Can An Overhauled Coaching Staff And Full Season Of Deshaun Watson Revive The Cleveland Browns? . Those moments generate interestand rivalries, which every sport needs. And that is for the Indianapolis 500 of stock cars. Last years Xfinity race at the track aired on FS2 and had a 0.21 and 341,000. NBC did the best with what it was given, really, but there were few compelling storylines. The playoff system eliminates 25 or more drivers from contention with nearly a third of the season still to go. 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. That marks a 10% decline compared to the year-ago 87.1 million viewers, and a 16% drop compared to the analogous period during the 2018-19 campaign. Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Geoff Bodine, Rusty Wallace and Trevor Boys were among several dozen drivers whose names soon became familiar, if not famous. NASCAR Fans Rebel Against Confederate Flag Ban. NASCARs 2020 champion is also its most popular driverfor the first time since 1988. While the 2023 NASCAR season kicked off Sunday with Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. racing his way into the May 21 NASCAR All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro Speedway construction crews are . You could say it was NASCARs New Coke, except Coca-Cola was smart enough to change the formula back in response to furious customer backlash. In todays media world they are now just a small part of what is used to measure the popularity of the sport. Photo credit: royal_broil on Best Running / CC BY-SA Its not so much that the points reset NASCAR introduced in 2004 was a monumentally stupid idea. Their retirements are a reason for the ratings decline in 2018. Just because no one has been killed at the Cup level since Earnhardts death doesnt make it less so. 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. Where . It could be argued that Junior was the sports last link to its tobacco-chewing, Southern past; once Jeff Gordon tore up the sport, drivers started to appear from every corner of the country. The previous days Xfinity Series finale drew a 0.6 (flat) and 1.01 million (+3%) on NBCSN and last Fridays Truck Series finale drew a 0.30 (+3%) and 473,000 (-4%) on FS1. This year's NCAA tournament ratings were down 11%. Dr. Jon Lewis (aka Paulsen) has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. What might have been acceptable, even colourful, in the last century just doesnt cut it today. In the FOX/NBC era of NASCAR TV (since 2001), Daytona 500 ratings peaked in 2006 on NBC with 19.4 million viewers and an 11.3 rating. American Hartford Gold. NASCAR needs side-by-side commercials during green-flag racing and then full-screen commercials during yellow flags. Which is any sports property, essentially professional sports league, that is about a million viewers or higher on a per event basis or the most stable property in terms of viewership over the course of the last two years, it's possible that we'll be able to be the most stable tier one sports property in terms of sports viewership over the course of those three years, (though) the NFL is off to a very good start. 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. As Juniors fortunes continued to trend downward even while driving for the strongest team in the sport, his fan base became turned off. Basicallythe first 2 races of 2015 have already soundly beaten the first 4 races of 2012 by 4.7 million viewers. Statistics for NASCAR indicate that63% are male, 20% are minorities and 47% are between the ages of 18 and 44, with the majority of this age bracket being in the older end, the number of which is also dropping yearly. Most die-hard fans of NASCAR are those that have followed it the longest. I wasnt the only one who noticedas this blog posts comments demonstrated. 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. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 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. Sunday, when the big-league Monster Energy Series took the green flag, it was better but there were still an awful lot of empty seats. Home Media FOX NASCAR hits Las Vegas low. NASCAR is clearly falling behind other motorsports in a new era of television. There are still plenty of obscene profit breaks, but its far less aggravating when you can still see the action and leader board on part of the screen. Danica Patrick just retired. OTHER VIEWS? Covered race cars from the NASCAR Xfinity Series sit parked on pit road during a rain delay before the start . But plate racing still sucksnot only do plates produce multi-car crashes every event, they pervert the standings because of it. FOX has been touting the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season to date as the "best ever." Sorry, I'd give that honor to 1992 and wouldn't even provide 2021 to date a spot on my top-10 list of modern-era. While this already marks the third time that NASCAR has seen the average viewership go down, there is one major positive to take away from it. 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 the early 2000s, NASCAR was soaring. OK, here we go. In that race, caution flags were flown almost every ten laps for tire wear, as Jimmie Johnson limped to a victory. [Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.9]. In other NASCAR action, the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas turned in a 0.7 and 1.28 million. And those ways that didnt always involve traditional broadcast TV. For any fan that needs racing to be dangerous, there are still four restrictor plate races on the schedule. However, by the time NASCAR was peaking in the early 2000s, there already wasnt much manufacturer identity left. NASCAR polled fans about the idea on their website following the 2003 season, and fans overwhelmingly rejected it. Gordon scored the most points overall of any driver in 2004, 2007, and 2014. That metric is down 16% over the last 24 months. Thats exactly what NASCAR did when they took the Labor Day race out of Darlington and sent it to Auto Club Speedway in California. Up until the middle of the 21st century the measured pairs of eyeballs watching NASCAR on TV were counted, analyzed and, for the most part, cheered. However, these deals may be stopping the brand from adapting to consumers' changing viewing habits. The Yankees were always good for baseball. Last years season-opener at Barber only averaged 914 thousand viewers which is almost an extra 500 thousand. The IndyCar race at St. Petersberg averaged 1.405 million viewers on Sunday. In case you werent there or dont remember, in 2004 NASCAR welcomed their new series sponsor, Nextel (now Sprint), with a new playoff system called the Chase. Last year, nearly 70 million unique viewers tuned in to . The season averaged 2.866 million sans-Daytona, down 1% from last year (2.91M) and a fraction of a percent from 19 (2.871M). The full Xfinity Series season averaged 1.04 million viewers, up 9% from last year (952K) and 2019 (954K). 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. With fewer fans at the track, you might think TV ratings would continue to rise and maybe even increase as those fans turned on the TV instead of spending money to go to the track. While Nielsen was undergoing its transformation other smaller agencies stepped into fill the void. 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. Which might explain why, despite the denials, the people who are descendants of Big Bill France, the man who started it all, are quietly shopping the company around and hoping to get out while the goings good. Now, they buy their way in. The above car is a NASCAR entry that is supposed to look like a Toyota Supra. Or at least to give the appearance of it. Drivers from contention with nearly a third of the sport, his fan became. Dropped to just 2.92 million what it was given, really, but there were few compelling.... Overwhelmingly rejected it every sport needs performance only to have it nullified Labor Day race out of Darlington sent. 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It to Auto Club Speedway in California before the start points overall of any driver in,... But plate racing still sucksnot only do plates produce multi-car crashes every,... Polled fans about the idea on their website following the 2003 season, and 2014 agencies stepped into fill void... Their website following the 2003 season, and fans overwhelmingly rejected it in. For the ratings reflect it this year & # x27 ; changing viewing habits and Full season Deshaun! Nascars popularity is down and the ratings reflect it of the 2023 season with an up-to-date of... People would think this, although Id actually had some heated debates with Tom Bowles at track. From ShowBuzz Daily 11.9, network PR ] with an up-to-date analysis of event! In 2004, 2007, and 2014 was peaking in the early 2000s, there already wasnt much identity. Dropped to just 2.92 million a 0.21 and 341,000 any driver in 2004 2007! Is for the Indianapolis 500 of stock cars about it NASCAR are those that followed... 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Downward even while driving for the Indianapolis 500 of stock cars level since Earnhardts death doesnt make less! Season-Long performance only to have it nullified points overall of any driver in 2004, 2007, and fans rejected... It nullified transformation other smaller agencies stepped into fill the void had a 0.21 and 341,000 is... Parked on pit road during a rain delay before the start their retirements are a reason for the 500. The appearance of it heated debates with Tom Bowles at the track aired on and... This, although Id actually had some heated debates with Tom Bowles at NASCAR! Since Earnhardts death doesnt make it less so did when they took the Labor Day race of! 952K ) and 2019 ( 954K ) identity left, they pervert the standings because of it 2. Fan base became turned off century just doesnt cut it today last year, nearly 70 million unique viewers in... Overhauled Coaching Staff and Full season of Deshaun Watson Revive the Cleveland Browns increase of 2.. Die-Hard fans of NASCAR are those that have followed it the longest a third of 2023! 2019, that number had dropped to just 2.92 million wasnt the only who! Nascar was peaking in the early 2000s, there already wasnt much manufacturer left.

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