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 Article: TV 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 Article: TV 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% |