NASCAR returned to Sonoma Raceway in California for a weekend that combined the premier Cup Series with the developmental O’Reilly Series, offering fans a blend of road‑course tradition and fresh competition.
The Cup Series race managed an average audience of 1.8 million viewers, a figure that fell short of the 2025 and 2024 numbers, the latter having benefited from a Fox broadcast that drew a larger crowd.
O’Reilly Series Hits a Milestone
The O’Reilly Series race, however, proved to be a bright spot, pulling 1.145 million total viewers and peaking at 1.231 million, the highest audience the series has recorded at Sonoma since the track rejoined the schedule in 2023.
Analysts noted that the 2026 event coincided with the FIFA World Cup, a scheduling clash that likely siphoned away potential viewers and contributed to the dip in Cup Series numbers.
Despite the viewership challenges, the weekend underscored the enduring appeal of Sonoma’s road course, with the O’Reilly Series delivering its most watched edition to date and setting a benchmark for future races.