NASCAR took top honors on a college basketball dominated weekend, but ratings and viewership for the Phoenix race were down from previous years.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Phoenix drew a 4.1 final rating and 7.0 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 23% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (5.3, 8.8M), down 27% and 23%, respectively, from 2013 (5.6, 9.1M), and the lowest rated and least-watched Phoenix race since 2010 (3.7, 6.0M).
Keep in mind Phoenix was the second race of the season from 2011-14, typically the highest rated and most-watched outside of the Daytona 500.
Compared to last year’s fourth race of the season, a rain-shortened telecast from Bristol, ratings and viewership declined by 9% and 4%, respectively, from a 4.5 and 7.3 million. It also trailed the 2013 Bristol race (4.6, 7.5M) by 11% and 7%, respectively.
Phoenix ranks as the first NASCAR on FOX telecast this season to have a year-over-year decline.
Despite the lower numbers, the race was the highest rated and most-watched sporting event of the weekend on any network — topping the NCAA Tournament Selection Show (3.5, 5.5M) and all college basketball games.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
