The NASCAR season got off to a better start last weekend.
The NASCAR Sprint Unlimited earned a 3.2 final rating and 5.6 million viewers on FOX last Saturday night, up 60% in ratings and 59% in viewership from last year on Fox Sports 1 (2.0, 3.5M), but down 9% and 2%, respectively, from 2013 on the FOX broadcast network (3.5, 5.7M).
Though up big from last year, Saturday’s telecast ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Sprint Unlimited ever on FOX (11 telecasts dating back to 2001). The previous low was set in 2013. Overall, the 3.2 rating is the second-lowest for the event since at least 1998.
Head-to-head, the Sprint Unlimited trailed competing coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night on TNT (3.4, 6.1M). Among adults 18-49, NBA coverage topped NASCAR by 133% (2.8 to 1.2).
On Sunday, Daytona 500 pole qualifying drew a 2.1 and 3.4 million — up 17% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.8, 2.9M), up 5% and 10%, respectively, from 2013 (2.0, 3.1M), and the highest rated and most-watched edition of the event since 2009 (2.4, 3.6M).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
