TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
The live NBC broadcast for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway earned a 1.37 rating and 2.471 million viewers this past weekend. That is down from the 2025 finale at Phoenix Raceway, also on NBC, which had a 1.45 rating and 2.774 million viewers. This year was the first time with a Chase championship format since 2013, but the title was very nearly decided before ...…
NASCAR's 2026 Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway garnered a 1.37 rating and 2.471 million viewers for the live NBC broadcast. This was a decline from the 2025 finale, which aired at Phoenix Raceway and achieved a 1.45 rating and 2.774 million viewers. The 2026 season marked the first use of a Chase championship format since 2013, yet the title was almost decided before the race even commenced.
Kyle Larson secured his third NASCAR Cup title early in Stage 1, while Ryan Blaney emerged victorious after a late pass in the race. According to the Sports Business Journal, NASCAR's average viewership during the 2026 Cup Series season was 2.419 million, marking a 2% decrease from the previous year's average of 2.479 million viewers.
Importantly, NASCAR began measuring ratings in 2026 using a new metric, combining Big Data with Panel, following Nielsen Media Research's shift to this approach.
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