For the sixth time in seven races, NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup eked out an increase over last year.
Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup AAA Texas 500 earned a 2.6 U.S. rating and 4.2 million viewers on ESPN, up 4% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (2.5, 3.9M), but down 10% and 12%, respectively, from 2011 (2.9, 4.7M).
The race ranks as the sixth of seven Chase For the Cup telecasts to have an increase in ratings and viewership over last year. That does not include the Chase opener from Chicago, which was delayed and postponed due to rain.
Despite the increase from last year, the race earned the second-lowest rating and viewership ever for the fall Texas race (dates back to 2005). Only last year’s race ranked lower.
In four years on ESPN, the fall Texas race drew between a 2.6 and 2.9 rating. In five previous years on ABC and NBC, ratings ranged from 3.7 to 5.1.
(Sun. numbers from ESPN)
