Though up from last year, when the Olympics depressed the numbers, Sunday’s Sprint Cup race from Pocono was among the lowest rated in years.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 400 from Pocono earned a 3.2 U.S. rating and 5.1 million viewers on ESPN Sunday afternoon, up 10% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (2.9, 4.4M), but down 6% and 8%, respectively, from 2011 (3.4, 5.5M).
Excluding the rained out 2009 race, Sunday’s telecast ranks as the second-lowest rated Pennsylvania 500 since at least 1998 (ratings prior to 1999 were not available). The only race to earn a lower rating was last year, when coverage faced the Olympics.
The race also ranks as the second-least viewed since at least 2000 (viewership prior to 2001 was not available), again ahead of only last year.
Despite the relatively low numbers, the Pennsylvania 400 was the fourth of the last five Sprint Cup races to have an increase in ratings and viewership over last year. By comparison, four of the previous five telecasts had declines.
For the week, Sunday’s race ranked as the third-highest rated and second-most viewed program on cable.
(Sun. numbers from ESPN)
