NASCAR’s TV problem is getting harder to ignore. Viewership has slipped all season, with the Cup Series down more than 13 percent from last year and playoff races off by nearly 17 percent. Even New Hampshire, which packed the grandstands for its postseason stop, could not escape the trend. That set the stage for a ratings update that left fans frustrated at the NASCAR Cup Series when the numbers went public.

The issue hits at the heart of NASCAR’s visibility. Last year’s numbers were very different for the playoff races. Those were healthy, middle-of-the-road numbers for a sport that still leans heavily on broadcast exposure. Heading into this fall, though, there was already concern about softer results. Some races bounced to cable and even Amazon Prime amid the return of NFL games. This

See Full Page