Airing opposite the Olympics and shortened due to rain, Sunday’s NASCAR race from Pocono unsurprisingly hit a multi-year low in ratings and viewership.
The rain-shortened NASCAR Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 400 from Pocono earned a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.449 million viewers on ESPN Sunday afternoon — down 15% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (3.4, 5.485M), and down 24% and 28%, respectively, from 2010 (3.8, 6.202M).
Excluding rainouts, this marks the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 1998 (ratings prior to 1999 were not available), and the least-viewed since at least 2000 (viewership prior to 2001 was not available).
Moreso than the rain, which was also a factor last year, competition from the Olympics no doubt contributed to the lower numbers. One week earlier, the Olympics sent the Brickyard 400 spiraling to a record low rating.
Overall, Sunday’s race ranks as the second-lowest rated and second-least viewed NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season. Only the June 30 Quaker State 400 from Kentucky — which had several markets excluded from ratings due to severe weather — drew lower numbers (2.5, 3.879M).
(Sunday’s numbers from ESPN)
