One of the closest finishes in NASCAR history dominated the sports ratings charts for Sunday, February 25.
Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race from Atlanta averaged a 2.5 rating and 4.55 million viewers on FOX, up 27% in ratings and a third in viewership from last year’s race at the venue, which took place in March opposite the NCAA men’s basketball tournament (1.95, 3.42M). Compared to the same post-Daytona weekend last year, ratings were flat and viewership increased 5% from the Auto Club 400 from Fontana (2.5, 4.32M).
Daniel Suarez’ narrow win, one of the closest in Cup Series history, delivered the largest sports audience of the weekend.
Placing a distant second, ABC averaged a 1.6 and 2.98 million for a Lakers-Suns NBA regular season game — down 20% in ratings and 15% in viewership from Lakers-Mavericks last year (2.0, 3.50M). While no match for NASCAR overall, the Suns’ win did finish first for the day (including broadcast network primetime) in adults 18-49 and 18-34.
Both ABC games declined double-digits from last year, as the Bucks-Sixers lead-in averaged a 1.0 (-23%) and 1.64 million (-18%). ESPN fared far better with its primetime doubleheader, averaging a 1.2 and 2.20 million for Nuggets-Warriors — up 31% in ratings and a third in viewership from Timberwolves-Warriors last year (0.9, 1.65M) — and a 0.8 (+10%) and 1.44 million (+12%) for Kings-Clippers.
In other action, NBC averaged a 1.1 and 1.78 million for final round coverage of the PGA Tour Mexico Open — down 20% and 23% respectively from last year’s late April edition (1.4, 2.31M).
Returning to the hardwood, CBS drew a 0.9 and 1.58 million for Ohio State-Michigan State — flat in ratings and up 8% in viewership from UCLA-Colorado last year (0.9, 1.46M) — preceded by Purdue-Michigan at a 0.8 (-14%) and 1.51 million (-10%) and Creighton-St. John’s at a 0.7 (-15%) and 1.15 million (-12%).
Caitlin Clark yet again fueled a record audience as FS1 scored a 0.44 and 816,000 for Illinois-Iowa, easily the network’s largest women’s college basketball audience on record. The Hawkeyes’ win comfortably outpaced LSU’s overlapping game with Tennessee on ESPN, which drew a 0.32 and 570,000.
Leading out, the Iowa wrestling team’s meet against Oklahoma State averaged a 0.13 and 254,000 — the most-watched college wrestling meet of the season.
Shifting to hockey, TNT averaged a 0.27 and 529,000 for Flyers-Penguins and a 0.14 and 265,000 for Lightning-Devils.
Sunday, February 25 sports ratings
