The Chase for the Nextel Cup is all but over, but NASCAR’s ratings woes continue.
The Checker Auto Parts 500 drew a 3.4 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, down 17% from a 4.1 rating for the same race last year. The race is the seventh straight NASCAR race to see declining ratings from last year.
Coverage of the end of the race led ABC to a fourth-place finish during the 7:00 PM hour Sunday night, as the network averaged 5.8 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49, according to preliminary numbers. The abbreviated edition of America’s Funniest Home Videos that followed the race improved on those numbers by 31% and 33%, respectively.
With Jeff Gordon having essentially conceded the Nextel Cup title to Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR may not get much of a bump from its season finale next Sunday. Look for the average rating for NASCAR on ABC to be the lowest for the sport on network television in at least three years.
