For NASCAR, even the smallest increase in ratings is preferable to the alternative.
Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta drew a 4.8 overnight rating on FOX, up 2% from last year (4.7), but down 14% from 2008 (5.6). Compared to last week’s Shelby American (4.1), Sunday’s race was up 17%.
This marks the first time this season that overnight ratings have increased for a NASCAR race.
Excluding ’06, when the race was postponed to Monday due to rain, the 4.8 overnight is the 4th-lowest for the Kobalt Tools 500 since ’99 — ahead of the ’00, ’07 and ’09 races, each of which drew a 4.7.
Sunday’s race drew the highest overnight of any sporting event on broadcast over the weekend.
