ABC hit a seven-year high in ratings for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Bristol.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Irwin Tools Night Race from Bristol (TN) earned a 3.7 final rating and 5.905 million viewers on ABC, up 23% in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (3.0, 5.067M), and up 6% and 1%, respectively, from 2010 (3.5, 5.842M).
This marks the highest rated and most-viewed edition of the race since 2005 (3.9, 6.307M, TNT), and the third-highest rated edition since at least 1998.
In addition, the 23% increase in ratings is the highest of the season for a NASCAR race on any network.
Keep in mind Saturday’s race did not air on ABC in several markets due to NFL preseason games and Hurricane Isaac coverage.
(Saturday’s numbers from TV By the Numbers)
