Yes, a team can still dominate all season and lose a championship to a flat tire, but at least its not just an artificial points reset. However, by the time NASCAR was peaking in the early 2000s, there already wasnt much manufacturer identity left. NASCAR looks beyond declining attendance, TV ratings They were even more upset when NASCAR changed its playoff system in January 2014 to create a winner-take-all race among four drivers in. OutKick reported: The NBA ratings are worse After 26 of 36 races, the top ten drivers would have their points reset, putting them all on a level playing field again for the last ten races. This year's Daytona 500, for example, drew 4.8 million viewers a. Danica Patrick just retired. A leading business development, project manager in the auction and liquidation industry, and consultant for various local and national government offices in the Philippines. They are included along with social media engagement, streaming, and the like. The share has become an increasingly relevant metric to sports leagues in recent months, as it is a metric immune from the broader trend of viewers watching less linear television. Schedule/Results. Nepotism isnt dead in NASCAR. Drivers. . On declining ratings throughout NASCAR and other sports. And as recently as 2013, the race drew 16.5. You also dont often see post-race fisticuffs after races at Kansas or Vegas like you might at Martinsville or Bristol. As streaming services provide instant entertainment whileNASCARhas scheduled andlengthy race events,thecomparison is similar toordering drive-thru (cheap and convenient) versusdining at a fine restaurant (pricier and takes longer before you can eat). Jerseyball Millvilles Mike Trout and Aaron Cox, Precision Pistol Shooting For Greatness, The Power of Fun Dave Raymond, The Original Phillie Phanatic, Being Relentless The HEADstrong Foundation, Surviving Until Tuesday Sergeant Andrew Einstein. The Daytona Road Course averaged 4.750 million viewers during the event. Our share of those TVs that are tuned in is up 18%. Strauss also reported that TNT's viewership is down 40 percent since the 2011-12 season, and ESPN has seen a decline of about 20 percent during the same time. The previous days Xfinity Series finale drew a 0.6 (flat) and 1.01 million (+3%) on NBCSN and last Fridays Truck Series finale drew a 0.30 (+3%) and 473,000 (-4%) on FS1. Viewership and attendance of NASCAR have been on the decline ever since 2006, and some think the 2021 boost was only due to people seeking more outdoor activity . NASCAR's meteoric rise was fed by the rise of Jeff Gordon, whom many consider to be NASCAR's first superstar, and the death of legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. Photo credit: sarahstierch on Visualhunt.com / CC BY It may seem good on the surface, but theres more beneath that makes this concerning. Professional sports adapted as well, understanding, and learning, how to measure viewership and show that value to their stakeholders. [Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.9]. Fox reported a modest 2% increase in viewership of comparable Cup race from 2018 to 2019, but it needs to be noted that Foxs part of the schedule does not collide with NFL and college football, which NASCAR fans also enjoy watching. Jimmie Johnson was a hallmark of ruthless efficiency in his prime, winning seven titles and five in a row. They are now just one part of a bigger picture: one pixel of a screenshot. It took quite a few years of longtime fans bitching about that, but NASCAR did finally move the Labor Day Southern 500 back to Darlington. Mark Martin has the best take on the decline in NASCAR attendance, ratings Comment Leave it to one of the coolest customers ever to sit behind the wheel in NASCAR to come up with an. The NFL only went down 9%, but please, tell me about anthem kneelers. But the ratings decline is hitting all of the leagues hard (including MLB, which has not embraced the movement on the field nearly as much as the WNBA, NBA, and NFL). 2.27.2023. Meaning that in todays world even the smallest increase in a TV rating is a really big deal when considering how overall viewership is measured. It would have saved a lot of time. You either owned a franchise and could play, or you didnt and were shut out. Related:15 Rules Every NASCAR Employee Has To Follow. In NASCAR, the equivalent of a ref would be the flagmen, who not only flag the start and end of the race but flag drivers with caution warnings for safety and rules enforcement. It was another case of costly arrogance; as much as fans loved NASCAR, they didnt love it enough to put up with an endlessly saturated marketing campaign featuring occasional snippets of racing each week. . I also think it's healthy just in terms of the interest. This was a problem that actually needed to be addressed and wasnt. NBC did the best with what it was given, really, but there were few compelling storylines. The full Xfinity Series season averaged 1.04 million viewers, up 9% from last year (952K) and 2019 (954K). NASCAR moved away from tracks where drivers push and shove and fight both other racecars and the track, and moved to aero-dependent speedways where engineers in the garage determined winners. It is now an elitist sport because only those who can afford to pay to play need apply. NASCAR needs side-by-side commercials during green-flag racing and then full-screen commercials during yellow flags. In the early 2000s, NASCAR was soaring. Danica turned out to be a huge bustas many people who followed the sport closely, including yours truly, predicted she would be. In NASCAR's pre-1990s heyday, when it was still very much a regional sport, manufacturer identity was a big thing. The six-race consecutive increase in viewership prior to Talladega is something that everyone can understand and helps reinforce just how healthy NASCAR is. By virtue of his fathers untimely passing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. instantly found himself with a larger fan base than any three drivers in NASCAR. Longtime, big-name sponsors are leaving the sport while. NBA players take a knee during National Anthem, screen image Get woke, go broke. Ratings were like Bible verses, an almighty Gospel preached to stakeholders on how much of NASCAR was reaching the masses. This includes the total viewership, the percentage being up or down compared to last year, and extra information that can range from unfortunate circumstances for television coverage to the household share. Veterans like Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are future Hall of Fame drivers with fairly large followings, and a strong crop of young drivers are making names for themselves. . Three of the four drivers in the championship race were also in the 2018 race, and three of the four drivers were in Toyotas. NASCAR did (and still does) market the possibility of spectacular wrecks. And forget Danica the non-stop promotion and ass-kissing of all things NASCAR by the announcers seriously, compare them against broadcasters of any other big-league sport has people who were once fans changing the channel permanently. This brought even more attention and money to the sport and school was soon out. That's the first time in a decade that that has happened, Hebrst said. In todays media world they are now just a small part of what is used to measure the popularity of the sport. NFLX However, NASCAR has been taking major strides as the on-track product is improving, the schedule is being changed, bold decisions are being made, and communication between each party is better. Most die-hard fans of NASCAR are those that have followed it the longest. Drivers. He pointed out that despite the ratings decline, NASCAR achieved a "double-digit share increase" last year. It didnt help that a hugely popular driver underperformed, but that shouldnt have caused this much of a free fall. The 2023 NASCAR season is underway and it is bound to be very exciting in the second year of the NextGen car. So to the extent that you can be flat or even up a couple of points it says a lot just about fan interest in the sport.. Related: NASCARs Daytona 500 ratings indicate a worrisome trend. But that in itself wasnt necessarily the crime. Johnson is getting some commiserations from the fans after the ratings came out. . Related: NASCAR power rankings during the 2023 season. . Affluence. It is understandable that throughout its existence, rule changes have been implemented at NASCAR, and the reasons for such have varied from safety, technological, or as organization initiatives to provide more challenges or add excitement to the races. The drops: 10% in one year, 19% in two years, 38% in three years, and, good golly Miss Molly, 51% since 2015, when NBC picked up the second half of the season in a giant 10-year contract, with Fox. The various platforms of social media have been a convenient and fast way to obtain information and entertainment on a particular sporting event. The sport mishandled the on-track racing by introducing the 550 horsepower package which caused the fanbase to lose trust. Advertising and sponsorship deals are the lifeblood of spectator sports, that is why the TV spots for the Superbowl are some of the most expensive in television. It was a successful year as the sport averaged over three million average viewers per race. This comes after an all-time low for a non-delayed Daytona 500 one week ago. But it was a never ending source of irritation to see five laps of racing followed by a several minute commercial break, which was then followed by another minute of a wide angle shot of the venue and This race is being brought to you by .. Why poll the fans if youre just going to ignore them? That. It was during this timethat "Bootleggers"- those whoproduce anddeliver prohibited whiskey/alcohol also had modified delivery cars that were fast enough to be able to evade, outrun and escape law enforcement should they be spotted. Goldco (Most trusted and best gold IRA company overall) Birch Gold Group (Best selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) Augusta Precious Metals. We try to do is take the complex and boil it down to something that is more easily understood by the fanbase.. But in a relatively short time, NASCAR corrected the car and the multiple issues with its design, and while the cars dont differ by manufacturer like they once did, at least were not seeing disastrously awful races just because of the cars construction. Feb. 25, 2023, at 5:39 p.m. Farewell, Fontana: NASCAR's Last Weekend at a Racing Gem. Stats. NASCARs NextGen car shows promise and one huge issue, NASCARs Daytona 500 ratings indicate a worrisome trend. After a marked decline in the middle of the previous decade, NASCAR's television numbers have been on the rebound over the past five years. When combined, it shows that NASCAR is in a pretty good place. And he had a very large fan base. IndyCar always has side-by-side commercials during green flag racing. I dont often see NASCARs ill-conceived playoff idea as a reason people cite for the decline of NASCAR in articles I read these days, but I promise you, that was not the case when I covered the sport. There's a catch, though. ), and a race at the concrete venue of Nashville for the first time. 1) Just like all the other major racing series in the world, NASCAR has become a money deal. It was, but even that wasnt the point. but the mainstream media claiming the political/social justice shift in sports has nothing to do with the decline in viewership are whistling past the graveyard. And stage races have also not gone over well with purists. Please email the author at [email protected], Copyright 2023 | Powered by CityMediaInc.com, Happy Birthday, GM Canada, and thanks for the (many) ride(s), Racing Roundup: Great Grand Prix in Austin, despite actions by stewards; Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame induction video; Alonso wont drive in IndyCar in 2019 or ever. Sunday, when the big-league Monster Energy Series took the green flag, it was better but there were still an awful lot of empty seats. Fortunately, NASCAR is finally addressing this. But for whatever reason, Junior not only didnt measure up to his fathers formidable reputation, he rarely even established himself as a contender. Thirty-five percent of participants said they were now watching less sports due to political and social messaging, whereas only 11 percent said they now watch more. And the same is true for NASCAR. It could be argued that Junior was the sports last link to its tobacco-chewing, Southern past; once Jeff Gordon tore up the sport, drivers started to appear from every corner of the country. It was the insistent implementation of it over loud objections of fans. NASCAR finale sees modest gain as season posts modest drop, Ratings: NASCAR, college hoops, soccer, NHL, XFL sees big drop in Week 2, but on par with last years USFL, LeBron injury ill-timed as Lakers continue to draw, Small sampling for LIV; PGA Tour wins head-to-head in rout. The addition of retired driver and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. beefed up NBCs product in 2018, but four people in the broadcast booth are too many voices. Im not buying the its too safe bit as a cause for the decline of NASCAR. There's a lot of people that are looking around and understand that the economics of our sport probably are in a better place now than they've been in a long time.. Elliott is a great driver and a likable kid, and he doesnt take any craphe doesnt shy away from wrecking a driver like Denny Hamlin if the situation called for it. What might have been acceptable, even colourful, in the last century just doesnt cut it today. Gordon scored the most points overall of any driver in 2004, 2007, and 2014. TV ratings are no longer the end all be all for NASCAR. With the current playoff point structure, drivers are also somewhat rewarded for strong season-long performances as wellwhile the Chase completely disregarded excellence during the season. From F1, Rally, Le Mans, Drifting, or Touring Car championships that are broadcast on TV or via the internet, viewers now have even more access to alternative motorsports events that can offer the same level of adrenaline fueled excitement that NASCAR can provide. Or Jeff Gordon, again, living in a Manhattan penthouse with his second wife, a model, instead of in North Carolina, where he lived beside a lake with his first wife, a deeply religious woman who was Born Again. Now, only the economic elite are allowed to enter the Inner Sanctum and if theres one thing NASCAR used to abhor, it was elitism of any kind. Overall, NASCAR brought in 114.231 million average viewers throughout the entire 2022 season which marks its best since the 2018 season (120.454 million average viewers). The 2019 season was run as regularly scheduled as well. While the 2023 NASCAR season kicked off Sunday with Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. racing his way into the May 21 NASCAR All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro Speedway construction crews are . Which meant that other drivers didnt win a lot. That NASCAR was doomed, soon to become nothing more than a memory. If NASCAR wants to fix the ongoing issues with viewership, fixing their way of broadcasting commercials would go a very long way in those efforts. | Along with that came an all-important metric: the Nielsen ratings. The current NBA broadcast deal nets the league $2.6 billion a year, however, a new report says the next one may be closer to $8 billion annually. Since early in the millenium, however, interest in NASCAR both at the speedways and on television has dropped off. With fewer fans at the track, you might think TV ratings would continue to rise and maybe even increase as those fans turned on the TV instead of spending money to go to the track. Saturday afternoon, they held a round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series there and there were so few people in the stands that they should have introduced them to the drivers instead of the other way around. NBC reported Monday that its broadcast of the NASCAR Cup championship race from Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida drew an average of 3.759 million viewers, its best audience for its half of the season. [Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.9, network PR]. The same story goes for NASCAR as the adverts that major companies place during their televised races are a major source of income for the organization and the teams. It would have been nice to have heard more during the championship race from Earnhardt. Even before the recent political turmoil in the sport, NASCAR was hemorrhaging fans and supporters, with viewership numbers dropping every event. So no, Johnsons domination wasnt directly a factor in the decline of NASCAR but their failure to market it most definitely was. Racing is still pretty danged dangerous. By the measurements used today, NASCAR then is in a very good place. Last years Xfinity race at the track aired on FS2 and had a 0.21 and 341,000. Last year, nearly 70 million unique viewers tuned in to . Meanwhile, NASCAR ratings . The last race at Auto Club took place in 2020 and had an average of 4.781 million viewers for the third event of the season. The disappointing ratings continue a downward trend in Daytona 500 viewership, which has been steadily declining since Fox scored 18.7 million viewers in 2005 with a household rating of 10.9 . Not all, of course, but most. But the initial Chase, an artificial and contrived points reset, was despised by fans. However, these deals may be stopping the brand from adapting to consumers' changing viewing habits. These are bold changes, but this variety of tracks will test drivers and teams at every level. Thats exactly what NASCAR did when they took the Labor Day race out of Darlington and sent it to Auto Club Speedway in California. Stats. Kyle Larsons win, which averaged 3.27 million including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen, was the seventh of the final ten Cup Series races this season to post an increase in viewership. NASCAR has struggled with the 18-49 demographic and while IndyCar doesnt have as many overall viewers, the percentage of those viewers being in that demographic is higher. The . The coverage goes through the entire event. Its certainly healthy in terms of eyeballs, Hebrst said. Its not often noticed, but it was definitely noticed by Jeff Gordon fans: had NASCAR not implemented the Chase, the driver of the iconic #24 could have been the one standing aside Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty today with seven titles, instead of his protg Jimmie Johnson. In terms of tier one sports properties, he said. Translation: the drivers are paying for the pleasure of racing. Sundays race at Auto Club is also down from the second race of the 2021 season. From their colorful beginnings to what is now a billion-dollar sporting event, NASCAR has continued to provide high octane entertainment for its millions of fans and supporters. There are still 11 races on intermediate tracks, but its finally moving in the right direction. NASCAR vehicles evolved over the decades to become safer for the drivers and spectators, the result of which is that cars today are uniform, standardized vehicles with their bodies basically just shells on top of a chassis. When added to metrics from an agency known as Joyce Julius & Associates, which specializes in measurement and analysis of media promotions that showed just how much TV exposure a sponsor was getting, NASCAR teams were able to justify the high cost of the sponsorships they were charging. In other NASCAR action, the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas turned in a 0.7 and 1.28 million. All eight CBS-owned CW affiliates have "declined to air" LIV Golf's tournaments, according to Rice & Hayes of DEADLINE. Ill submit that this is a reason a few fans I know stopped watching the sport. Standings. In NASCARs pre-1990s heyday, when it was still very much a regional sport, manufacturer identity was a big thing. I have been around and covered NASCAR for over two decades. It may seem good on the surface, but there's more beneath that makes this concerning. Motorsports encompass a wide variety of classes that offernumerous choices for fans ofauto racing. (Just in case you were wondering, Fox is unlikely to name a replacement for Darrell Waltrip if he is replaced, that is though we should find out more next month. Flat is better than down, but 2018 was also the year the once-mighty U.S.S. So if Im right, in a few years NASCAR may become Americas summer sport again. Compared to the 2019 finale from Homestead-Miami, ratings fell 13% (from 2.2) and viewership 14% (from 3.74M). Since this is a non-ideological blog, I wont get into the things that the NFL, NBA and MLB have recently done to drive away a significant portion of their fanbases. NASCAR averaged 4.570 million viewers for Sunday afternoon's event at Auto Club Speedway. When not at work, Karlo spends his time at home, with family, either being the cook or fixit guy in his house. I think that the momentum is good. NASCARs 2020 champion is also its most popular driverfor the first time since 1988. The decline of NASCAR from dominance started circa 2005, and there wasnt any big change to car specs in that time period. Its largely forgotten now, because the sports current elimination format playoff system at least had some thought put into it. NASCAR power rankings during the 2023 season, NASCAR odds: Betting lines for each race and championship futures, NASCAR ratings on big rise compared to recent years in 2022, NASCAR standings: Cup, Xfinity, and Truck points during the 2023 season, Share up 9%, largest for Race #2 since 2017, Share up 2%, largest for Daytona 500 since 2016, Second most-watched non-points race since 2016. For the first time in over a decade and a half, they seem to be headed in the right direction. The previous two races the Daytona Roval and Homestead-Miami posted double-digit increases over the same Cup Series stops last season, but those races had the benefit of moving up from the lower-rated summer portion of the schedule. When it was a big thing is up 18 % the time NASCAR was doomed soon. Compelling storylines tell me about anthem kneelers huge issue, nascars Daytona 500 nascar ratings decline for example, drew 4.8 viewers! 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