The recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, aired on over-the-air FOX, garnered 2.926 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel metric. While it showed a 26 percent increase from last year’s race in Kansas, it is important to note that last year’s race was aired on FS1. Previous years’ Cup Series races in April would typically attract over 3 million viewers, indicating a slight decline in viewership for this year’s event.
This particular race was strategically aired on FOX this year to serve as a lead-in to the IndyCar Series’ Grand Prix of Long Beach, in which the network has a minority ownership stake. The move proved successful, with the Long Beach race drawing 1.27 million viewers, a significant 130 percent increase from the previous year’s numbers. IndyCar reported that this was the most-watched Long Beach race since the merger of Champ Car and Indy Racing League in 2008.
Additionally, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has been a boon for The CW network, with the Kansas Lottery 300 race attracting 1.18 million viewers. This marks the highest viewership for a Kansas race in the second-tier division since 2023. The race also saw a 12 percent increase from the same weekend last year when it was held at Rockingham Speedway. Despite not being a direct comparison, it is evident that NASCAR races on The CW have consistently drawn over a million viewers since their partnership at the beginning of the 2025 campaign.
In conclusion, the recent NASCAR and IndyCar races have showcased a positive trend in viewership numbers, indicating a promising outlook for both motorsports series. This data highlights the continued interest and engagement of fans in the racing world, setting a positive tone for future events in the season.
