FOX’s Last Race: How Were the TV Ratings at Sonoma?

June 14, 2023
1:01 pm

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, leads the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 12, 2022 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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Joshua Lipowski

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NASCAR TV ratings experienced an increase this weekend at Sonoma compared to last year.

What’s Happening?

With NASCAR off this week, the normal TV ratings this week took a bit longer than expected, and, while NASCAR still has not released official figures yet, ratings for the weekend have been reported. Cindy Yen on Twitter released a spreadsheet showing TV ratings for multiple sporting events this weekend including NASCAR. NASCAR pulled in 2.912 million viewers and a 1.65 rating.

#NASCAR received an average of 2.912mil viewers on FOX for Sonoma. (This will show as an increase over previous years because those races were on FS1)

NASCAR was beat by golf on CBS this week.

Full analysis coming tonight. pic.twitter.com/R5H0GZMEnS
— Cindy Yen (@cindymeliyen) June 13, 2023

NASCAR was the third highest rated TV broadcast of the weekend behind the Belmont Stakes on Saturday on FOX and the PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open on CBS on Sunday. It was second over the weekend in the 18-49 demographic behind the UEFA Champions League Final on CBS on Saturday afternoon.
This is an increase of more than 700,000 viewers from last year’s race on FS1. This year’s race was on FOX.
With this not being the official ratings that are normally released, there was not a huge reaction on social media. NASCAR losing out to the PGA Tour did raise some eyebrows

The Main Characters

Cindy Yen compared TV ratings from this year to previous years.

#NASCAR at Sonoma viewership analysis + FOX recap:

– The race at Sonoma received an average of 2.912mil viewers
– That's a 30% increase over last year's race
– HOWEVER this year's race was on FOX, and last year's was on FS1 pic.twitter.com/Ndikvb9mkX
— Cindy Yen (@cindymeliyen) June 14, 2023

In the Stands

Scott Ford theorizes that the PGA Tour’s current controversy is a reason behind it beating out NASCAR.

Larry Lee was not encouraged by the lack of the 18-49 demographic.

NFL NASCAR Analyst said that there was little surprise as to the TV ratings.

From the Pressbox

Jamie Little said that she liked seeing NASCAR “holding its ground.”

The ratings increase is welcome, but unsurprising. It was the lowest viewed race on FOX this season regardless, and it continues a bumpy ride in terms of TV ratings.