The 2009 Chase for the Cup got off to a rough start on ABC.
Sunday’s Sylvania 300 drew a 3.2 final rating and 5 million viewers on ABC, down 16% and 17%, respectively, from last year (3.8, 6.1 million), and down 3% in both ratings and viewership from ’07 (3.3, 5.2 million).
This marks the lowest rated, least-viewed Sylvania 300 since ’06.
Through September 20, 24 NASCAR races have averaged a 4.3 rating and 7 million viewers on FOX, TNT, ESPN and ABC. This excludes the Coca Cola 600, Pennsylvania 500 and Heluva Good! at the Glen.
Ratings for the Sylvania 300 since ’01
* 2001 race ppd from September due to 9/11
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sun., 9/20/09 | Martin | ABC |
3.2/-
|
| 2008 | Sun., 9/14/08 | Biffle | ABC | |
| 2007 | Sun., 9/16/07 | Bowyer | ABC | |
| 2006 | Sun., 9/17/06 | Harvick | TNT | |
| 2005 | Sun., 9/18/05 | Newman | TNT | |
| 2004 | Sun., 9/19/04 | Busch | TNT | |
| 2003 | Sun., 9/14/03 | Johnson | TNT | |
| 2002 | Sun., 9/15/02 | Newman | NBC | |
| 2001* | Fri., 11/23/01 | R. Gordon | NBC |
Source: ESPN
