For the third straight race, and only the 4th time in 2009, ratings increased for NASCAR.
Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500 drew a 3.5 U.S. rating and 5.8 million viewers on ESPN, up 6% in ratings and 4% in viewers from a 3.3 and 5.6 million for last year’s comparable Pepsi 500.
Compared to last year’s Pep Boys Auto 500, which aired in October on ABC, Sunday’s race was down 3% in ratings (vs. a 3.6), but up 4% in viewers (vs. 5.6 million). This marks the lowest-rated and second-least viewed edition of the race since ’03.
So far this season, 22 NASCAR races have averaged a 4.4 rating on FOX, TNT and ESPN, down 8% from a 4.8 through the comparable date last year. This excludes the Coca Cola 600, the Pennsylvania 500 and the Heluva Good! at the Glen, all of which were postponed due to rain.
Ratings/viewership for the Pep Boys Auto 500 since ’99.
* 2000 race was postponed from Sunday to Monday due to rain
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sun., 9/6/09 | Kahne | ESPN |
3.5 (4.1)
|
|
| 2008 | Sun., 10/26/08 | Edwards | ABC | ||
| 2007 | Sun., 10/28/07 | Johnson | ABC | ||
| 2006 | Sun., 10/29/06 | Stewart | NBC | ||
| 2005 | Sun., 10/30/05 | Edwards | NBC | ||
| 2004 | Sun., 10/31/04 | Johnson | NBC | ||
| 2003 | Sun., 10/26/03 | Gordon | NBC | ||
| 2002 | Sun., 10/27/02 | Busch | NBC | ||
| 2001 | Sun., 11/18/01 | Labonte | NBC |
n/a
|
|
| 2000* | Mon., 11/20/00 | Nadeau | ESPN |
n/a
|
|
| 1999 | Sun., 11/21/99 | Labonte | ESPN |
n/a
|
