NASCAR TV ratings revealed for Duel races ahead of Daytona 500

Following Thursday night’s Duel races, NASCAR has good news to share ahead of the Daytona 500. People are tuning in. Already this week we have seen a bump in viewers for qualifying, and the Duel races did not disappoint either.

Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric were the big winners on Thursday night as far as on the track. However, the entire sport is winning so far this week to start the 2025 season.

FOX Sports reported that 1.8 million viewers tuned into the Duels on FS1 on Thursday night. That is an increase of 12% which is the same increase that qualifying saw on Wednesday night. A good sign for the Daytona 500.

The 1.8 million viewers not only made it the top sports telecast on Thursday, but it is the largest audience the Duels have had on TV since 2018. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic also noted that FS1 was the top cable sports network in primetime viewership.

Is it the Dale Jr. effect? Earnhardt and his JR Motorsports organization are competing in the Cup Series for the first time ever. Justin Allgaier drove the No. 40 Chevy into the Daytona 500 field in the Duel race.

It is very interesting that both qualifying and the Duel races have seen a 12% increase. If that continues throughout the weekend, NASCAR will gladly take that. As long as Sunday doesn’t get rained out (no guarantee) then it will be a great week of viewership to open the 2025 season.

Daytona 500 momentum can lead into Atlanta

With the So Damn Close documentary about the 2024 Atlanta race coming out this week, it is clear what NASCAR is doing behind the scenes. Moving Atlanta to the second race of the season was controversial. But you can’t deny the end result last year.

That three-wide photo finish with Daniel Suárez, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney will go down in history. NASCAR is likely looking at these ratings bumps and hoping to roll from the Daytona 500 straight into Atlanta with a few million viewers in the process.

Starting off the season with back-to-back drafting tracks is a bold decision. It is one that paid off in 2024. Atlanta has produced fantastic racing since the reconfiguration. This season should be no different.

The Daytona 500 is going to be the most-watched race of the season. But there is no reason why NASCAR can’t parlay that success into a great week two of the season.