USA Network ratings revealed for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire

This past Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway got 1.29 million viewers on USA Network, per Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. Viewership was down 28% from last year’s Round of 12 opener at Kansas Speedway, which earned 1.79 million viewers.

The 2024 New Hampshire race had 1.88 million viewers on USA Network. Overall, viewership is down from the previous season. Of course, this latest race was competing for eyeballs against the 1 p.m. Week 3 NFL slate.

Sunday’s Round of 12 opener was dominated by Team Penske. Their raw speed was evident in practice and qualifying, and that continued throughout the race as three of its four cars — including Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry which shares a technical alliance with Penske — finished inside the top five.

Team Penske flexes its muscles at New Hampshire

Ryan Blaney won the race, followed by Berry in second and Joey Logano in fourth. That trio led 273-of-301 laps at New Hampshire. Most assumed Penske would be the team to beat at New Hampshire after Logano was fast at a tire test there in July.

Blaney was tasked with fending off a hard charging Berry in the closing laps. Berry gave it his best, but Blaney did enough to stay in front and win his third race of the 2025 season.

“That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove,” Blaney told Marty Snider of NBC Sports. “I was trying to kind of bind my stuff and kind of pull Josh a little bit and he really started coming. I started to get super free; it was all I could do to hold him off and trying new lanes. So, it was good racing and clean racing, appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have.

“What a cool day, what a cool weekend. Super fast car all weekend, so can’t believe the 12 boys, they’re unbelievable. Really strong throughout the playoffs and it’s great to get a win the first race of this round.”

Next on the schedule is Kansas Speedway. Kyle Larson was brilliant there in the spring, taking the checkered flag after leading 221-of-267 laps.