Wednesday, October 14, 2026

NASCAR Races Back With 4% TV Growth in 2022

  • NBC to broadcast the season finale from Phoenix on Sunday.
  • NASCAR averaged over 3M viewers over 37 races this season.
NASCAR-Cup-Series
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

NASCAR is poised to wrap up its 2022 season this weekend after a bounce-back year in TV viewership.

Heading into Sunday’s NBC Sports coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, the motorsport averaged 3,031,000 million viewers over 37 races this season.

That’s up 4% from an average of 2,912,000 viewers over the same period last season.

Drivers Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, and Christopher Bell will all be in contention on Sunday for the title, which has a total purse of $10,542,284.

NASCAR’s TV performance hasn’t slowed down with this season.

  • FOX Sports averaged 3.7 million viewers in the first half of the season — up 8% from 2021. 
  • NASCAR experienced its highest viewership since 2017 during that same time period. 
  • NBC shifted some of its NASCAR races to USA Network after shutting down NBCSN. 

NBC’s coverage of the Cup Series title begins at 3 p.m. ET, and the broadcast team will include race analysts Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte; play-by-play announcer Rick Allen; and studio analysts Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, and Brad Daugherty. 

NASCAR Still Beats Formula 1

NASCAR has been watching rival Formula 1’s growth in the U.S, but it still out-rates F1 by a large margin TV-wise.

Competing head-to-head on Oct. 23, NBC’s coverage of the NASCAR’s Homestead race averaged 2.31 million viewers compared to 1.11 million for ABC’s telecast of F1’s U.S. Grand Prix.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR

Michael Jordan Is ‘All In’ on Racing After Legal Fight

The NASCAR CEO said the Bulls legend is a “true fan.”

Tirico Defends Michael Jordan Interview: ‘Completely Worth It’

Tirico says Jordan is “above the daily discourse” of the NBA.
Kenny Albert Fox Sports
First at FOS

Kenny Albert’s Last-Minute NLDS Fill-In Came Mid-Colonoscopy Prep

Albert filled in for Joe Davis, who had lost his voice.
Oct 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) throws during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Division Series Extends Postseason Ratings Streak

Fox Sports and TNT Sports saw initial viewership lifts in the Division Series.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/13/26 – Quinn On Hot Seat, Dream’s Arena Crunch, FOS “Tuned In” Preview

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.

Pablo Torre: More Coming on Clippers, Life Surge … and LeBron?

LeBron’s relationship with Fanatics allows him to use its helicopter.
Taylor Rooks
October 13, 2026

Taylor Rooks Defends Friendships With Athletes She Covers

“I actually think it sometimes might make it a little bit easier.”
October 13, 2026

ESPN Exec Mike Foss: Pat McAfee ‘Might Be a Journalist At Heart’

Foss said he had “absolutely nothing” to say to McAfee’s critics.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Josh Pate Front Office Sports
October 13, 2026

How a Lunch in Atlanta Led to Josh Pate’s ESPN College Football Show

Pate told ESPN that legacy media was underserving college football fans.
Don Garber Front Office Sports
Exclusive
October 13, 2026

Post–World Cup Soccer Audiences Surge Among Young Viewers

Domestic and European leagues have seen post-tournament audience bumps.
Sep 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; NBC broadcast analyst Mike Tomlin before the game between Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Opinion
October 12, 2026

The Tomlin Effect? NFL Analysts More Blunt Than Ever

Rex Ryan is the latest ex-coach to break from the fraternity.
ESPN
October 12, 2026

Disney Stacks Super Bowl LXI Lineup With Even More Alt-Casts

Disney adds to its cross-platform coverage of the upcoming NFL title game.