Overview

• The telecast delivered a 0.75 rating and 1.4 million viewers, down from 1.2 and 2.2 million for last year’s Sunday race at the track, a 38% decline.
• Newsweek reports the audience ranks as the fourth-lowest Cup number since 2020, and the 2025 regular-season average of 2.64 million is the lowest on record.
• Commentary from fans and analysts pointed to the Saturday timing and USA Network placement as the chief factors depressing reach.
• Despite the weak TV figure, Richmond drew packed grandstands and 83.1% of Jeff Gluck’s poll respondents rated the race as good.
• The viewership trailed many 2020 midweek Cup races and sat uncomfortably close to the weekend’s Truck Series audience of roughly 500,000.