Ratings for the 2008 Daytona 500 were up barely from last year.
The 2008 Daytona 500 drew a 10.2 national rating Sunday afternoon, up 1% from a 10.1 in 2007.
Originally, this space reported that the 10.2 was the overnight rating.
While the 10.2 rating makes this year’s Daytona 500 the second-lowest rated of the past five years, it also places the event on a short list of sporting events that can draw double-digit numbers. Compared to other marquee sporting events, the race finished with a better rating than the 2007 NCAA Final Four, the 2007 NBA Finals, every golf major (including The Masters), three of the five BCS games — and the race finished slightly behind the 2007 World Series (10.6).
The race drew 17.8 million viewers, compared to 17.5 million last year, and post-race coverage helped FOX edge 60 Minutes to win the 7:00 PM half-hour. The solid numbers for the Daytona 500 did not help FOX much overall in prime time, as the network’s line-up of cartoons finished fourth in total viewers and third among adults 18-49.
Final ratings for the Daytona 500.
(since 2001)
2001: 10.0 (2/18/01 FOX)
2002: 10.9 (2/17/02 NBC)
2003: 9.8* (2/16/03 FOX)
2004: 10.4 (2/15/04 NBC)
2005: 10.9 (2/20/05 FOX)
2006: 11.3 (2/19/06 NBC)
2007: 10.1 (2/18/07 FOX)
2008: 10.2 (2/17/08 FOX)
* 2003 Daytona 500 was shortened by rain.
