After a brief reprieve, NASCAR had another drop in the ratings on Sunday.
The Toyota/SaveMart 350 drew a 3.4 U.S. rating and 5.8 million viewers on TNT Sunday evening, down 8% in ratings and 4% in viewers from a 3.7 and 6.0 million for last year’s race, and the lowest rating for the race since the ’99 edition drew the same rating. Ratings have declined for the Toyota/SaveMart 350 each of the past four years.
Excluding the rain-delayed Coca Cola 600, fourteen of the fifteen NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season have seen declines in ratings and viewership.
Through three races, TNT is averaging a 3.4 rating and 5.5 million viewers for NASCAR coverage, down 6% and 4%, respectively, from a 3.6 and 5.7 million through the same point last year.
Again excluding the Coca Cola 600, 15 NASCAR races have averaged a 4.9 rating on FOX and TNT this season, down 9% from a 5.4 for the 15 comparable races last year.
Final ratings for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 since ’99.
| Year | Date | Time | Winner | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sun., 6/21/09 | 5:00 PM | Kahne | TNT |
3.4 (N/A)
|
| 2008 | Sun., 6/22/08 | 4:59 PM | Busch | TNT | 3.7 (4.3) |
| 2007 | Sun., 6/24/07 | N/A | Montoya | TNT | 3.8 (4.5) |
| 2006 | Sun., 6/25/06 | 3:45 PM | J. Gordon | FOX | 5.1/11 |
| 2005 | Sun., 6/26/05 | 3:45 PM | Stewart | FOX | 5.7/13 |
| 2004 | Sun., 6/27/04 | 4:15 PM | J. Gordon | FOX | 4.7/11 |
| 2003 | Sun., 6/22/03 | 4:15 PM | R. Gordon | FOX | 4.8/11 |
| 2002 | Sun., 6/23/02 | 1:15 PM | Rudd | FOX | 4.5/12 |
| 2001 | Sun., 6/24/01 | 3:45 PM | Stewart | FOX | 5.0/13 |
| 2000 | Sun., 6/25/00 | N/A | J. Gordon | ESPN | 3.5 (4.6) |
| 1999 | Sun., 6/27/99 | N/A | J. Gordon | ESPN | 3.4 (4.5) |
