The first — and last — NASCAR Chase For The Cup race on ABC this season had a decline in overnight ratings.
Saturday’s Bank of America 500 drew a 2.9 overnight rating on ABC, down a tick from last year (3.0), and down 17% from 2008 (3.5).
This marks the lowest overnight for the Bank of America 500 since the race returned to broadcast television in 2002.
Though down from previous years, Saturday’s race easily drew the highest overnight of this year’s Chase For The Cup. The first four races, all of which aired on ESPN, drew overnights of 2.1 (Sylvania 300, AAA 400 and Price Chopper 400) and 2.3 (Pepsi Max 400).
Compared to the other two races on ABC this season, Saturday’s telecast ranked behind the August 21 Irwin Tools Night Race (3.0), but topped the September 11 Air Guard 400 (2.8).
Saturday’s race was topped head-to-head by Game 2 of the NLCS on FOX (5.2) and the Ohio State/Wisconsin college football game on ESPN (4.8).
(Rating from Sports Business Daily; ESPN overnights from Jayski)
