The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen drew 1.928 million viewers, marking the lowest‑rated event of the season and raising questions about the series’ current audience momentum.
While the numbers fell short of expectations, the weekend was highlighted by Shane Van Gisbergen’s triumphant victory, a moment that injected excitement into an otherwise muted broadcast.
Rival Series Find Their Audience
The O’Reilly Series averaged 1,013,000 viewers on The CW, outperforming IndyCar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course by 54 percent and underscoring the competitive appetite for road‑course racing.
The Craftsman Truck Series attracted 329,000 viewers on FS1, while ARCA’s race drew 56,000 viewers on FS2, illustrating the varied audience across NASCAR’s support categories.
Looking ahead, Watkins Glen is slated to return to the Chase for the Championship next year, a move that could help revitalize interest in the historic road course and its fan base.