The world of motorsports is buzzing with record-breaking viewership! But here's a surprising twist: the NHRA, known for its thrilling drag races, has just upstaged NASCAR's Las Vegas race in the ratings game.
NHRA's Historic Milestone:
The NHRA's Texas FallNationals on Fox captivated a staggering 2.07 million viewers on average, with a peak of 3.63 million. This marks a monumental first, as it's the only NHRA broadcast to surpass the 2 million viewer mark. The previous high was set by the NHRA US Nationals in August, with 1.04 million viewers.
Steve Reintjes, NHRA's VP of Broadcast, attributed this success to the exceptional production team's dedication and passion. He also acknowledged the support of the Texas Motorplex and Fox Sports, highlighting the collective effort behind this achievement.
NASCAR's Strong Showing:
NASCAR's Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway attracted 1.7 million viewers, a 10% increase from the previous weekend's race at Charlotte Roval. This makes it the most-watched NASCAR race since the playoffs kicked off in late August.
However, last year's Las Vegas playoff race, which aired on NBC, averaged 2.19 million viewers. This year's numbers, while impressive, cannot be directly compared due to the difference in broadcasting platforms.
Global Racing Fever:
Down under, the Bathurst 1000 in Australia revved up its largest TV audience since 2016, with over 2 million viewers nationwide. The race averaged 1.54 million viewers on the Seven Network and an additional 459,000 on Foxtel.
Streaming services also saw a surge, with Seven's 7Plus OTT platform and Foxtel's Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now recording their highest streaming numbers for a Supercars race.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg! With motorsports gaining traction worldwide, the competition for viewers is heating up. But is it fair to directly compare NHRA and NASCAR's viewership, given their different race formats? Share your thoughts below!
