Sunday’s NASCAR race from Michigan drew the lowest ratings in at least 13 years.
The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 from Michigan drew a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.3 million viewers on TNT Sunday afternoon, down 12% in ratings and 15% in viewership from both last year (3.3, 5.1 mil) and 2008 (3.3, 5.1 mil), and down 9% and 17%, respectively, from 2007 (3.2, 5.2 mil).
This marks the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 1997 and the least viewed since at least 2001.
Additionally, this is the first regularly scheduled NASCAR race to dip below a 3.0 U.S. rating since last year’s Tums Fast Relief 500 on ABC (2.9).
Of the 13 regularly scheduled NASCAR races this season, Sunday’s race is the ninth to have a decline in ratings versus last year.
Despite the lower numbers, Sunday’s race was still the top sporting event of the week on cable, in a week that featured six World Cup matches on ESPN*. Overall, the race was the week’s tenth-most viewed cable program.
Ratings For NASCAR From Michigan Since 1997 (Viewership Since 2001)
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sun., 6/13/10 | Hamlin |
TNT
|
2.9
|
4,333
|
| 2009 | Sun., 6/14/09 | Martin |
TNT
|
3.3
|
5,118
|
| 2008 | Sun., 6/15/08 | Earnhardt, Jr. |
TNT
|
3.3
|
5,084
|
| 2007 | Sun., 6/17/07 | Edwards |
TNT
|
3.2
|
5,225
|
| 2006 | Sun., 6/18/06 | Kahne |
FOX
|
4.5
|
7,106
|
| 2005 | Sun., 6/19/05 | Biffle |
FOX
|
4.7
|
7,399
|
| 2004 | Sun., 6/20/04 | Newman |
FOX
|
4.5
|
7,094
|
| 2003 | Sun., 6/15/03 | Busch |
FOX
|
5.4
|
8,468
|
| 2002 | Sun., 6/16/02 | Kenseth |
FOX
|
4.8
|
7,442
|
| 2001 | Sun., 6/10/01 | Gordon |
FX
|
3.1
|
4,868
|
| 2000 | Sun., 6/11/00 | Stewart |
CBS
|
4.4
|
—
|
| 1999 | Sun., 6/13/99 | Jarrett |
CBS
|
4.4
|
—
|
| 1998 | Sun., 6/14/98 | Martin |
CBS
|
4.7
|
—
|
| 1997 | Sun., 6/15/97 | Irvan |
CBS
|
4.4
|
—
|
* The World Cup matches on ESPN also aired on Univision.
