FOX facing pressure as TV ratings emerge after Denny Hamlin criticism
FOX Sports faces pressure as NASCAR ratings dip slightly, with Denny Hamlin voicing frustration over broadcast issues, despite a thrilling Darlington race.
FOX Sports is facing increased pressure as recent television ratings from the NASCAR weekend at Darlington Raceway show mixed results, coinciding with criticism from star driver Denny Hamlin.
The Goodyear 400, a flagship event for the NASCAR Cup Series, garnered 2.51 million viewers, marking a slight 4 percent drop from last season's 2.63 million. Despite the race's high-profile status and being the most-watched sporting event on Sunday, the dip in viewership has raised questions about the effectiveness of FOX's coverage, which is already under scrutiny from some of the sport's biggest names.
Hamlin, fresh off his victory at Darlington, voiced his frustrations with FOX’s NASCAR broadcast just days after his win. During a recent episode of his podcast, 'Actions Detrimental,' Hamlin aired his grievance over technical issues with the network’s audio, claiming the feed was only coming through his right speaker and lacked the quality he expected from a national broadcast.
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"Is FOX's audio f----- up for anyone else?" Hamlin asked. "Like, I notice in my living room and in my bus, I have multiple speakers. I have a TV and then I have speakers, a left and a right. But the audio during our races only comes out of our right speaker. It’s like it’s on analog. I don’t know.
"I’ve noticed it for a few weeks that they’ve got something going on with their audio that is just not like all other audio coming through FOX or any other station for that matter. I don’t know what’s going on."
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Although his complaint may be partially about technical issues outside of FOX’s control, it points to a broader dissatisfaction with the coverage. For a driver of Hamlin’s stature to publicly criticize FOX, especially after a highly dramatic race, underscores the mounting pressure the network is facing from both drivers and viewers.
The CW enjoys TV ratings surge as FOX dips
Meanwhile, FOX is not the only network drawing attention in the NASCAR world. The Xfinity Series race, which aired on The CW, saw a significant surge in viewership, attracting 1.123 million viewers. This marked a 44 percent increase from last year’s Darlington race, with the Xfinity Series delivering its most-watched non-playoff race at Darlington since 2019.
The CW’s numbers are especially impressive, as they mark the first time in years that the Xfinity Series races have consistently hit the million-viewer mark. The shift from cable to broadcast for the second-tier series seems to have paid off, boosting visibility and viewership for NASCAR’s future stars.
For FOX, however, the decline in viewership for the Cup Series raises concerns. As the broadcaster that covers the sport’s premier division, the ratings drop contrasts with the network's expectations for a stronger audience given the drama that unfolded in the Goodyear 400.
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Hamlin’s win in overtime, which followed a thrilling turn of events late in the race, was a narrative that should have had viewers on the edge of their seats. Yet, as the ratings suggest, there seems to be a disconnect between the excitement on the track and the overall television experience.
This drop in viewership, coupled with criticism from high-profile drivers like Hamlin and even legendary figures such as Richard Petty, signals that FOX may need to reassess its approach.
Petty, who made his own jabs at FOX’s coverage during the broadcast, pointed out that while viewers may see one story on-screen, the real action happens further back in the pack. For fans, seeing this racing drama translated effectively on TV is crucial. Without proper coverage of the on-track excitement, NASCAR risks alienating its dedicated fan base, even if the event remains the most-watched of the day.
