Compelling stories and a late finish propelled NASCAR to a strong finish on NBC.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Homestead (FL), the final race in the Chase For the Cup, had a 4.4 overnight rating on NBC and NBCSN Sunday — up 52% from last year (2.9) and up 63% from 2013 (2.7), both on ESPN.
Kyle Busch‘s win, which clinched the Sprint Cup, scored the highest overnight for NASCAR’s season finale since 2005, when the race drew a 4.8 on NBC. The last time the race aired on a broadcast network, 2009, it had a 3.2 overnight on ABC. The last time it aired on NBC, 2006, it had a 4.3.
Overall, the 4.4 overnight is the fourth-highest ever for the annual Homestead race, which began in 1999 — trailing only 2005, 2004 (5.6) and 2002 (4.5). It is also the highest for a Sprint Cup race since Atlanta in March (5.1) and the third-highest of the season overall, trailing only Atlanta and the Daytona 500 (7.3).
Sunday’s race benefited from several factors. Jeff Gordon was participating in his final race and had a chance to win the championship. The race aired on two networks, which usually provides a bump. Most importantly, rain pushed the finish into primetime — preempting the first 50 minutes of NBC’s Football Night in America.
(Sun. numbers via twitter.com/nbcsportspr)
