Fans Point Fingers as NASCAR Ratings Tumble Again

March 14, 2023
2:28 pm

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Jake Smith

News Writer for The Daily Downforce.

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Fox announced Sunday's Cup Race earned a 1.93 rating which was down from last year's 2.33 rating.

What’s Happening

With NASCAR’s most popular driver Chase Elliott still out due to a fractured tibia and Danica Patrick back in the broadcast booth for the second week in a row, fans have numerous theories as to why FOX has gone down in viewers from last year’s race in Phoenix.

FOX earned a 1.93 rating and 3.4 million viewers for Sunday’s NASCAR race at Phoenix, down from a 2.33 rating + 3.991 million viewers last year.

NASCAR’s TV ratings have been down every single race this year compared to 2022. This is a surprise compared to the marked gains they’ve made the last few years.

While impacting mostly the business bottom lines for NASCAR, fans see ratings as a rough measurement of the “health” of the sport – from the on-track product to the broadcast to the trendiness of the sport as a whole. Any change, up or down, is sure to be hotly debated in the stands.

.@FoxTV earned a 1.93 rating and 3.4 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR race at Phoenix, down from a 2.33 rating + 3.991 million viewers last year.

🔲 NASCAR was the No. 3 sports event of the week if including @MarchMadnessMBB or No. 2 if excluding, with @THEPLAYERSChamp No. 1. pic.twitter.com/LyO0JSWHXZ
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) March 14, 2023

In The Stands

Kenny brings up Mike Joy’s “Keyboard Warriors” comments in winning the battle this week. But, as Martin Truex Jr. would say, who will win the damn war?

Fan Blake replies to Adam Stern’s Tweet on the ratings at Phoenix this week, blaming the absence of Chase Elliott still having a major effect.

Chuck Foolery puts blame on FOX’s broadcast as well as the racing product that the cup cars brought to Phoenix.

BaileyR01 replies to BlackFlagMatter’s tweet sharing his thoughts on what is causing the rating to be lower at Phoenix.

Matt Allison blames the ratings towards the booth as well as the racing produced in Phoenix.

On Your Screen

Darian Gilliam shares his thoughts on NASCAR’s TV ratings this season as they’ve been down compared to last year.

Pretty sad that every race so far this season has been down in ratings compared to last year.

What do you think the problem is?
— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) March 14, 2023

Content Creator David Land reacts to Fox’s ratings they posted this week. Concerns that the “Chase Elliott Effect” is a major part of the problem?

Wow. Chase Elliott effect that strong? Numbers be nosediving post Fontana. https://t.co/3GhIaMxinN
— David Land™❌ (@DLand91) March 14, 2023

From The Pressbox

Racingnews.co released NASCAR’s TV ratings for Friday’s ARCA race and Saturday’s Xfinity event.

The downward trend for NASCAR’s broadcast keeps going as the 2023 season progresses and is causing some worry amongst fans. The numbers are showing that the “Keyboard Warriors” are voicing loudly about NASCAR’s coverage.