NASCAR began a crucial season on a low note last weekend.
NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying scored a 1.5 final rating and 2.4 million viewers on FOX last Sunday, down 12% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (1.7, 2.8M) and down 29% in both measures compared to 2015 (2.1, 3.4M).
It was the lowest rated Daytona 500 qualifying telecast since at least 1998, falling below the previous mark of 1.6 in 2010. It barely exceeded 2010 (2.40M to 2.36M) as the least-watched since at least 2001.
As recently as 2008, qualifying coverage had a 2.9 and 4.4 million.
In other action, the rescheduled The Clash at Daytona (previously the Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Shootout) had a 1.2 and 1.8 million on Fox Sports 1 Sunday morning. Last year’s edition, which was run as scheduled on a Saturday night and aired on the FOX broadcast network, had a 2.8 and 4.8 million.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 2.22)
