The Most Watched NASCAR Races in History: TV Ratings, Iconic Moments & What Made Them Special
As the premier motorsport in America, NASCAR attracts a huge audience in the country, and around the world. Racers risk their lives at hundreds of miles an hour, separated by mere millimeters and seconds as they do whatever it takes to be the first person past the chequered flag. These thrilling races have attracted millions of viewers from around the world, which has led to bigger TV deals and more and more access for fans. It is this viewership that fuels the growth of the sport, which is why iconic moments such as Dale Earnhardt Jr.s emotional win in 2004 or Jimmie Johnson’s first Daytona 500 win in 2006 are so important.
As the sport continues to reach new heights, this article will go through some of the most watched moments in NASCAR history.
Top 5 Most Watched NASCAR Races
NASCAR has delivered some of the most thrilling moments in motorsports history, regularly pulling in millions of viewers. It will probably not come as too much of a surprise that the most watched races of all time, all happen to be editions of the Daytona 500, the iconic 500-mile Cup Series season opener. Here are the top 5 viewed races in NASCAR history.
1. 2006 Daytona 500 – 19.4 million viewers
The most-watched race in NASCAR history saw Jimmie Johnson earn his first-ever Daytona 500 victory, helped out by a late-race crash between Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth. In a thrilling finish, Johnson saw off advances from Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who all made sure he had to work for his famous victory.
2. 2002 Daytona 500 – 18.8 million viewers
Ward Burton shocked 18.8 million viewers in the 2002 edition of the Daytona 500, when he won the famous race, having started it in 19th place. Burton gained the lead fortunately after Sterling Marlin had jumped out of his car during a stoppage to make some repairs, something that NASCAR judged to be illegal, sending him to the back of the field for the restart. From there, Burton held on to win the race, which also happened to be the final appearance of veteran driver Dave Marcis.
3. 2005 Daytona 500 – 18.7 million viewers
Fans were treated to an all-time classic in 2005, with Jeff Gordon overcoming a frantic last phase of the race to defeat Kurt Busch in second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in third. The race was completed under yellow, and Gordon survived several overtime restarts to hold on for the win. A clutch performance amidst multiple wrecks meant that fans left very well entertained.
4. 2004 Daytona 500 – 17.8 million viewers
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally won the Daytona 500 in 2004, following in his father’s footsteps just three years after the tragic passing of Dale Senior. His emotional celebration will go down as one of the sport’s most iconic moments, making it a worthy spectacle for the masses in attendance and watching on TV.
5. 2008 Daytona 500 – 17.8 million viewers
Rounding out the list, we have the 2008 edition of the Daytona 500, which drew 17.8 million viewers. Ryan Newman grabbed the honors thanks to a dramatic last-lap pass and a push from his teammate Kurt Bush. This gave Newman his first Daytona 500 win for the Penske Racing team, but it would unfortunately be his one and only win of the season.
What Makes NASCAR So Popular?
There is a lot that goes into high viewership numbers and strong NASCAR TV ratings, such as legendary driver rivalries and iconic moments that will live long in the sport’s history. Fundamentally, though, this is a sport that delivers thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing at 180 miles-per-hour, which alone is a reason to turn on the action.
When you then factor in iconic rivalries, such as that between Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, or Kurt Busche and Jimmy Spencer, you can’t help but be on the edge of your seat. Two drivers battling at high speed to protect their legacy can captivate a nation, and there have been many rivalries that have earned legendary status over the years, bringing fans back for more, time and time again.
Then you have the moments that will be etched into the sport’s history books for years to come. Defining moments such as the first fully broadcasted race in 1979, or the famous photo finishes that have had fans on the edge of their seat. And who doesn’t love a Hollywood ending for a hero, such as Dale Earnhardt Junior’s emotional Daytona 500 victory just three years after his father’s tragic death. Moments like these unite fans and give us all something to celebrate and remember, immortalized in history as stories that will be passed down through generations of fandom.
What Does the Future Hold for NASCAR TV Ratings?
As we detailed in the section above, NASCAR has a fantastic story to tell, and the ever-changing media landscape and growing NASCAR TV audience trends are only making it easier for it to do so. The new TV deal with Amazon Prime will open the doors for a new wave of fans to bolster the sport’s popularity, whilst constantly improving technology and lucrative TV deals are transforming the viewing experience, with incredible access via on-board cameras, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
Features and access such as these will only help the sport’s popularity grow, meaning there will be more fans to witness the next batch of iconic moments, and more money in the pocket for NASCAR as a sport.
Between the thrilling on-track action and the evolving TV and streaming landscape, the future of NASCAR broadcasting is incredibly exciting. The biggest NASCAR events have been viewed millions of times, all across the globe, and the constant delivery of high-profile races is bolstering the sport’s popularity. With streaming services like Amazon Prime TV now getting involved, more and more fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the next batch of iconic NASCAR moments, and the sport will be all the better for it.
If you want to be part of that next wave of NASCAR fans, make sure to check out Live Sports on TV, which features an up-to-date NASCAR TV schedule and broadcasting information.
Author: Venuse, Inc.