The NHRA’s drag racing coverage scored a ratings home run this past weekend, according to a tweet by Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal.
With a 7.2 million viewer NFL lead-in, the NHRA telecast drew 1.872 million viewers, edging out NASCAR’s 1.717 million on USA Network for the top motorsports slot.
That result arrives on the heels of NHRA’s record U.S. Nationals broadcast on FOX, already ranked the most-viewed live U.S. Nationals telecast in NHRA history and its biggest non-NFL-adjacent telecast on FOX since 2017.
NHRA’s arrangement with FOX began in 2016, after the sport parted ways with ESPN amid concerns over poor scheduling.
Under the deal, FOX (via FS1/FS2 and the broadcast network) airs qualifying, Sunday eliminations, encores and select Sportsman events — with a commitment to 16 live Sunday elimination broadcasts per season.
NHRA extended that partnership in 2021, with further tweaks to align broadcasts around NASCAR scheduling, including tape-delayed windows during peak NASCAR months.
The headline weekend ratings offer another data point supporting drag racing’s resurgence in both live and broadcast arenas.
At Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, NHRA posted its fourth straight Saturday sellout crowd, the fifth overall sellout of the 2025 season.
And in St. Louis, World Wide Technology Raceway declared a full sellout for the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Beyond ticket sales and linear ratings, fans are consuming drag racing via streaming, highlights, social media clips, and podcasts.
NHRA’s FOX broadcast team recently drew seven Telly Awards for video excellence, reinforcing the production’s appeal across platforms.
The combination of strong live attendance, multi-platform consumption, and flagship television success puts NHRA on firm footing.
As Stern’s numbers suggest, drag racing now rivals mainstream motorsports on the audience ledger — and NHRA’s expanded FOX relationship has helped make that possible.
