Even with rain delaying the finish into primetime, overnights for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race from Talladega were the lowest since FOX began televising the race in 2001.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Aaron’s 499 from Talladega (AL) earned a 4.4 overnight rating on FOX Sunday, down 6% from last year (4.7), and down 4% from 2011 (4.6). The 4.4 overnight is the lowest for the race since it moved to FOX in 2001.
Sunday’s overnight only includes race action from 1:15-3:15 PM ET and 7:00-8:15 PM. Rain-delay coverage was excluded.
As one of the higher-profile races on the Sprint Cup calendar, it should be no surprise that Talladega earned NASCAR’s overnight in six weeks — since the Auto Club 500 from Fontana in late March (4.5).
Overall, the 4.4 overnight is tied as the fourth-highest of the season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, trailing only Fontana, Phoenix (5.3) and Daytona (10.0).
NASCAR earned the third-largest overnight of the weekend for a sporting event on broadcast, trailing only a Pacers/Knicks NBA playoff game on ABC (4.9) and the Kentucky Derby on NBC (10.4).
(Sunday’s overnight from Sports Business Daily)
