One week after a near record-low for the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s second race of the season earned its lowest rating in 16 years.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Atlanta earned a 4.1 final rating and 6.8 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 27% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (5.6, 9.5M) and down 23% in both measures from the second race of the 2014 season, Phoenix (5.3, 8.8M).
Jimmie Johnson‘s win earned the lowest rating for NASCAR’s second race of the season in 16 years — since Rockingham on TNN in 2000 (3.9). The previous low over that span was the 5.3 for Phoenix in 2014.
NASCAR’s second race of the season — previously Phoenix (2011-14), Fontana (2005-10) and Rockingham (prior to 2005) — is usually the highest rated outside of Daytona. It topped a 6.0 each year from 2001 to 2009, including an 8.2 in 2001, a 7.9 in 2005 and a 7.4 in 2006. In 2008, even rainout coverage opposite the Oscars managed a 6.2 rating.
Sunday’s numbers were still the second-best for any NASCAR race from Atlanta in the past six years, since the spring race in 2010 (5.3, 8.5M).
For the weekend, NASCAR on FOX was the top sporting event on any network — ranking comfortably ahead of the Warriors/Thunder NBA game on ABC Saturday night (3.2, 5.3M).
(Sun. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
