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.
Viewership Comparison and Race Outcome
That viewership figure is down from the 2025 finale at Phoenix Raceway, which was also broadcast on NBC and brought in a 1.45 rating along with 2.774 million viewers.
This year marked the return of the Chase championship format for the first time since 2013. However, the championship battle was nearly settled before the race officially commenced.
Kyle Larson secured his third NASCAR Cup title during the early stages of Stage 1, whereas Ryan Blaney claimed the race victory following a late overtaking maneuver.
Season-Long Viewership and Measurement Changes
As reported by the Sports Business Journal, NASCAR averaged 2.419 million viewers across the entirety of the 2026 Cup Series season. This represented a 2% decline compared to the previous year, when the 2025 season averaged 2.479 million viewers.
Additionally, the methodology for measuring ratings underwent adjustments in 2026. Nielsen Media Research transitioned to a new measurement metric known as ‘Big Data + Panel.’
