In the ratings department, this has been a lost season for NASCAR.
NASCAR Cup Series racing from Michigan earned a 2.0 rating and 3.2 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon, down a tick in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.4M) and down 23% and 26% respectively from 2015 (2.6, 4.3M).
Kyle Larson‘s win ranks as the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 1998 and the least-watched since at least 2000, falling below the previous marks set last year. As recently as five years ago, the race had a 3.3 rating and 5.2 million viewers on ESPN.
The declines in ratings and viewership were a reversal of fortune after the race posted a slight bump in the overnights (from 1.9 to 2.0).
Excluding rainouts, ratings and viewership have declined for 19 of 22 Cup Series races this season. Only the Daytona 500, Texas and the Brickyard 400 have managed to avoid declines. Michigan was the 18th race to at least tie an all-time or decade-plus ratings low, and the 16th to do so in viewership.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 8.15]
