Last weekend’s event at Phoenix Raceway marked Nascar’s most significant year-over-year increase in viewership this year, with 4.03 million viewers tuning in to witness Christopher Bell clinch his first win of the season, representing a 19 percent surge from 2023.
Airing on Fox, this marked the third consecutive Nascar race to demonstrate a rise in viewership compared to the previous season. Furthermore, this achievement underscores the series’ ability to attract over four million viewers in four out of its first five races, a milestone only achieved four times throughout the entirety of last season.
Conversely, Formula One has experienced a sharp decline in viewership at the start of its season. The recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saw a 40 percent drop year-over-year, with only 920,000 viewers tuning in. However, it’s worth noting that this year’s race was broadcast on ESPN2, unlike the primary ESPN channel in 2023.
Moreover, the race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit took place on a Saturday this year instead of its customary Sunday slot, which could have impacted viewership figures.
On the other hand, the opening race of the Formula One season in Bahrain also occurred on a Saturday and attracted 1.12 million viewers, marking the third-largest audience for a Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite airing on the primary ESPN channel, this still represented a 14 percent decrease from the previous year.
IndyCar has similarly experienced a sluggish start in 2024. The series’ season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, garnered an audience of 975,000, indicating an 18 percent decline compared to 2023.
One potential factor contributing to this decline could be competition from the Big 10 Women’s Basketball Tournament final, featuring highly-regarded prospect Caitlin Clark.
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Nascar invested approximately US$5 million in producing the Full Speed docuseries, marking its first significant attempt to emulate the successful Drive to Survive model pioneered by Formula One.
Initial viewership data shows promise. While events like the Busch Light Clash and the Daytona 500 experienced declines of 59% and 27% in audience, respectively, these figures were likely influenced by scheduling changes due to severe weather conditions.
The sustainability of this momentum remains to be seen, particularly as Nascar races transition from airing on the main Fox channel to FS1. After Richmond Raceway hosts the series on March 31st, seven out of ten races will be shown on FS1 instead of Fox.
Regarding Formula One and IndyCar, it’s premature to draw conclusions about viewership trends. However, Formula One may be concerned about the potential long-term impact of on-track predictability on its image in the US.
