NASCAR enters the Chase for the Cup on a much better track than last year.
Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Wonderful Pistachios 400 drew a 3.7 final rating and 6.167 million viewers on ABC, up 19% in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (3.1, 5.288M), and up 6% and 11%, respectively, from 2009 (3.5, 5.535M).
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed edition of the race since 2007 (4.2, 6.751M). Over the past ten seasons, only the 2007 race has drawn a higher rating and more viewers.
Of the 20 NASCAR races that can be compared to last season, ten have had increases in ratings and twelve have had increases in viewership. That is a far cry from the same point last year, when 16 of 21 races had declines in ratings and 15 had declines in viewership.
Though up from last year, the race was outdrawn head-to-head by college football on ESPN (ND/MICH: 4.5, 7.541M).
Ratings/Viewership For NASCAR From Richmond
Past ten seasons
* 2008 race was postponed from Saturday on ABC to Sunday on ESPN
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Sat., 9/10/11 | Harvick | ABC |
3.7
|
6,167
|
| 2010 | Sat., 9/11/10 | Hamiln | ABC |
3.1
|
5,288
|
| 2009 | Sat., 9/12/09 | Hamlin | ABC |
3.5
|
5,535
|
| 2008* | Sun., 9/7/08 | Johnson | ESPN |
2.5
|
3,974
|
| 2007 | Sat., 9/8/07 | Johnson | ABC |
4.2
|
6,751
|
| 2006 | Sat., 9/9/06 | Harvick | TNT |
3.2
|
5,288
|
| 2005 | Sat., 9/10/05 | Busch | TNT |
3.3
|
5,673
|
| 2004 | Sat., 9/11/04 | Mayfield | TNT |
3.5
|
5,881
|
| 2003 | Sat., 9/6/03 | Newman | TNT |
3.0
|
5,077
|
| 2002 | Sat., 9/7/02 | Kenseth | TNT |
3.4
|
5,697
|
(This year’s numbers from ESPN)
