NASCAR Phoenix Race Draws Increased Viewership on FOX

The Straight Talk Wireless 500 saw a 19% boost over last year's FS1 average.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix this past weekend drew 2.841 million viewers on FOX Sports 1, up 19% over the average FS1 broadcast from a year ago. The race peaked at 3.516 million viewers from 7 to 7:15 p.m. ET, making it the biggest viewership for FS1 since the FS1 portion of the ALCS Game 7 simulcast.

Why it matters

Strong viewership numbers for NASCAR races are important for the sport's continued growth and ability to attract sponsors and media rights deals. The Phoenix race's performance indicates that NASCAR's popularity remains steady, especially among key demographics.

The details

According to FOX Sports PR, the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway drew 2.841 million viewers, up from 2.818 million last year, an increase of about 1%. The race, which was broadcast on FS1, peaked at 3.516 million viewers from 7 to 7:15 p.m. ET, making it the biggest viewership for FS1 since the FS1 portion of the ALCS Game 7 simulcast.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix took place on March 8, 2026.

The players

FOX Sports

A major American sports broadcasting company that holds the television rights to broadcast NASCAR races.

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The takeaway

The strong viewership numbers for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix demonstrate the sport's continued popularity and appeal to television audiences. This is a positive sign for NASCAR's future growth and ability to attract sponsorship and media rights deals.