Danica Patrick‘s stock car racing debut put in a solid performance for Speed Channel last week.
Last Saturday’s ARCA Series race from Daytona drew a 1.6 U.S. rating (2.3 cable) and 2.6 million viewers on Speed Channel, up 78% and 87%, respectively, from last year’s comparable race (0.9 U.S., 1.45 cable, 1.3 mil).
The race stands as the highest rated ARCA telecast ever, and the highest rated race of any kind in Speed TV history, excluding the network’s annual coverage of the NASCAR All-Star Race.
To put the numbers in perspective, the race drew more viewers than Daytona 500 Qualifying on FOX that same day (2.4 mil) — despite FOX being in nearly 40 million more households than Speed Channel.
Moreover, the telecast was the highest rated, most-viewed sporting event of the week on cable — topping NBA and college basketball games — and the third-most viewed sporting event of the week on any network.
Amazingly, the ARCA telecast on Speed Channel drew more viewers than the final round of the Northern Trust Open on NBC (2.5 mil) and Magic/Celtics on ABC (2.5 mil).
