The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season averaged 2.86 million viewers across FOX, FS1, NBC and USA Network, down 5% from last year (3.03M) and the least-watched season on record. The previous low was 3.00 million for the 2021 season. Including the preseason “Clash” from Daytona and the All-Star Race, the season averaged 2.87 million — down 6% year-over-year.
Last weekend‘s season finale from Phoenix averaged a 1.6 rating and 2.92 million viewers on NBC (3.03M including streaming data measured by Adobe Analytics), marking the least-watched Cup finale on record and the least-watched fall Phoenix race since 2019 (2.57M).
Ryan Blaney‘s title-clinching win, which peaked with 3.8 million viewers, declined 13% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (1.9, 3.21M). Twelve of the final 13 Cup Series races declined from the prior year.
Despite the quiet finish, the NBC portion of the season actually finished with a slight increase in viewership. Races on NBC and USA Network averaged 2.47 million (including Adobe Analytics), up from 2.45 million last year.
As for the other NASCAR series, Xfinity Series races averaged 1.01 million viewers this season (flat) and the Truck Series averaged 594,000 (-5%).
