The second race of the Chase For the Cup had slight improvement on ESPN, but still remained well below par.
Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 from New Hampshire earned a 2.4 U.S. rating and 3.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 9% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (2.2, 3.5M), but down 11% and 12%, respectively, from 2011 (2.7, 4.2M).
This marks the third-lowest rating for the race since the current TV arrangement began in the 2001 season, ahead of only last year and 2010 (2.3).
ESPN has now aired the sixteen lowest rated Chase For the Cup telecasts (excludes rainouts).
Again excluding rainouts, the Sylvania 300 ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed Sprint Cup telecast of the season. Last week’s Geico 400 earned lower numbers (1.8, 2.7M), but was plagued by hours of rain delays.
(Sun. numbers from ESPN)
