Lewis Hamilton Canadian Grand Prix, Friday - Wolfgang Wilhelm Photo for Mercedes

TV News: Weekend USA Motorsports TV Ratings

TV Ratings for major motorsports events broadcast in the USA this past weekend. NASCAR was in Sonoma, CA, F1 was in Montreal, IndyCar was at Road America and the NHRA was in Bristol TN.

TV Rating Analysis

NASCAR topped the day in sports viewing with a 1.6 TV Rating and 2.90 million viewers for Cup Series racing from Sonoma (Ca.) on FOX, the final Cup Series race on Fox Sports this season. Kyle Larson’s win declined a tick in ratings and 1% in viewership from last year (1.7, 2.91M)

NASCAR, IndyCar and F1 all went head-to-head on broadcast television Sunday. The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix scored 1.1 TV Rating and 1.8 million viewers on ABC, the largest live audience ever for the race. Max Verstappen’s win increased 2% from the previous record set last season (1.76M) and peaked at 1.97 million viewers.

TV viewership of the Canadian GP in Canada also set records.

Related ArticleTV News: Canadian GP F1 race sets U.S. & Canada TV records

IndyCar from Road America placed a distant third with a 0.52 rating and 863,000 viewers on NBC – almost 1 million fewer viewers than F1 in head-to-head competition. IndyCar viewership was up significantly over 2023 because the race was broadcast on the USA Network last year.

NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Sonoma (Ca.) pulled a 0.42 TV Rating and 768,000 on FS1, down from a 0.46 and 814,000 last year.

Fox Sports averaged 3.369 million viewers for Cup races in 2024, up 1% from 2023 — marking the first time that Fox has finished with an increase in a NASCAR season after having a delayed or postponed Daytona 500.

F1 led by a wide margin in the all-important 18-49 age group, while all other forms of motorsports in the USA continue to attract old people.

Related ArticleTV News: 100 Days to Indy TV Audience – Season 2 Ratings

TV Rating Data

Network Event Location Total
Viewers
18-49
Viewers
Ratio:
18-49 Yr Old/
Total Viewers
2024
Rating
2023
Rating
Rating
% Chg.
2023
Network
2023
Viewers
2023
18-49
Viewers
Total
Viewers
% Chg
18-49
Viewers
% Chg
FS1 NASCAR Cup Race Sonoma 2,895,000 565,000 20% 1.60 1.65 -3.03% FOX 2,912,000 517,000 -0.58% 9.28%
ABC Formula 1 Race Montreal 1,800,000 775,000 43% 1.10 0.89 +23.60% ABC 1,760,000 639,000 +2.27% +21.28%
NBC IndyCar Race Road America 863,000 215,000 25% 0.52 0.23 +126.09% USA 385,000 84,000 +124.16% +155.95%
FS1 NASCAR Xfinity Race Sonoma 768,000 120,000 16% 0.42 0.46 -8.70% FS1 814,000 148,000 -5.65% -18.92%
FS1 NHRA Finals Bristol 257,000 35,000 14% 0.16 0.15 +6.67% FS1 248,000 37,000 +3.63% -5.41%
CW 100 Days to Indy Episode 7 175,000 30,000 17% 0.10 0.13 -23.08% CW 185,000 50,000 -5.41% -40.00%