NASCAR Chase Viewership Surges 6%: Is the Playoff Formula Working?

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNASCAR is attracting a bigger television audience than last year’s postseason, with average viewership reportedly up 6% through the first four races.According to NASCAR’s own figures, the first four Chase races in 2026 have averaged approximately 1.7 million viewers, compared with 1.6 million viewers at the same stage in 2025.The numbers offer an early indication that NASCAR’s return to the traditional Chase format is generating in