Skip to main content
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR Cup, Xfinity Series TV ratings revealed after weekend at Talladega

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones10/08/24

brianjones_93

Talladega Superspeedway (4)
Oct 6, 2024; Talladega, Alabama, USA; Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (47) celebrates a win after the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The TV ratings for NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity Series races at Talladega this weekend have been revealed. Per the social media account Sports TV Ratings, the Cup Series race (YellaWood 500) drew 3.127 million viewers, and the Xfinity Series race (United Rentals 250) drew 917,000 viewers. The YellaWood 500 aired on NBC, and the United Rentals 250 aired on The CW.

The viewership for the Cup Series race is a big increase from last year. In 2023, the Talladega fall race drew 2.505 million viewers, a decrease from what it was in 2022 (2.827). This year’s Cup Series viewership total matches what it was in 2018 (3.510), the highest a the six-year span.

NASCAR fans got a wild Cup Series race on Sunday that saw 23 cars involved in a major wreck with five laps remaining. When it was all said and done, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crossed the finish line first on Sunday to win the fourth race of his Cup Series career.

More on NASCAR’s successful weekend at Talladega

“This team has put a lot of hard work in. Obviously, we haven’t won since the 500 in ’23. It’s been an up-and-down season,” Stenhouse said after the race. “It was a lot of hard work this season just trying to find a little bit of speed, but we knew that this track is one of ours to come get. So for all of our Southern Mississippi people, appreciate you all coming. This means a lot, winning here.

“Got to say we’re thinking about everybody in Western North Carolina. Brad Dougherty, his family right where he grew up there in Black Mountain, a lot of people are struggling. I wish my wife and son, Stetson, were here. They didn’t come this weekend. I’ll see you all at home, and man, what I day.”

In the Xfinity Series race, Sammy Smith claimed first place and clinched a berth into the next round of the playoffs. It was Smith’s first win since April 2023 at Phoenix Raceway.

“It’s been a really tough year,” Smith said after the race, per NASCAR.com. “It’s been a while and it’s been a struggle, but I’m very happy to be here and looking forward to getting better on these ovals and road courses.”